1. Characteristics of included studies (ordered by comparisons).
| Study name | Intervention 1 (number of participants) vs intervention 2 (number of participants) | Small varices | High risk of bleeding | Included participants with other features of decompensation | Aetiology of cirrhosis | Period of recruitment | Follow‐up in months | Overall risk of bias |
| PROVA study group 1991 | No active intervention (72) vs beta‐blockers (68) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| Bhardwaj 2017 | No active intervention (70) vs beta‐blockers (70) | All participants had small varices | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2010–2012 | 21 | High |
| Cales 1989a | No active intervention (8) vs beta‐blockers (16) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 0.15 | High |
| Cales 1989b | No active intervention (8) vs beta‐blockers (8) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 0.25 | High |
| Conn 1991 | No active intervention (51) vs beta‐blockers (51) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1982–1986 | 17 | High |
| Ideo 1988 | No active intervention (27) vs beta‐blockers (30) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1982–1986 | 22.8 | High |
| Lebrec 1988 | No active intervention (53) vs beta‐blockers (53) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (not stated) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1985 | 12 | High |
| Merkel 2004 | No active intervention (78) vs beta‐blockers (83) | All participants had small varices | No participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1996–2000 | 36 | High |
| Mishra 2007 | No active intervention (42) vs beta‐blockers (43) | All participants had small varices | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 18 | High |
| Pascal 1987 | No active intervention (112) vs beta‐blockers (118) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1983–1984 | 14.3 | High |
| Sarin 2013 | No active intervention (73) vs beta‐blockers (77) | All participants had small varices | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2004–2007 | 25 | High |
| Snady 1988 | No active intervention (15) vs beta‐blockers (14) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| Chen 2000 | Variceal band ligation (26) vs beta‐blockers (30) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 12 | High |
| De 1999 | Variceal band ligation (15) vs beta‐blockers (15) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1994–1996 | 17.6 | High |
| Drastich 2011 | Variceal band ligation (40) vs beta‐blockers (33) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 11 | High |
| Feng 2012 | Variceal band ligation (84) vs beta‐blockers (84) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1998–2008 | 23.8 | High |
| Jutabha 2005 | Variceal band ligation (31) vs beta‐blockers (31) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1996–2001 | 15 | High |
| Khan 2017 | Variceal band ligation (125) vs beta‐blockers (125) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 6 | High |
| Lay 2006 | Variceal band ligation (50) vs beta‐blockers (50) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1998–2002 | 34.9 | High |
| Lo 2004 | Variceal band ligation (50) vs beta‐blockers (50) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1997–2000 | 22.2 | High |
| Lui 2002 | Variceal band ligation (44) vs beta‐blockers (66) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1994–1999 | 19.7 | High |
| NCT00337740 | Variceal band ligation (not stated) vs beta‐blockers (not stated) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
not stated | not stated | High |
| Norbeto 2007 | Variceal band ligation (31) vs beta‐blockers (31) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
2001–2005 | 14.6 | High |
| Perez‐Ayuso 2010 | Variceal band ligation (39) vs beta‐blockers (36) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1998–2007 | 55 | High |
| Psilopoulos 2005 | Variceal band ligation (30) vs beta‐blockers (30) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1999–2003 | 27.5 | High |
| Schepke 2004 | Variceal band ligation (75) vs beta‐blockers (77) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1996–2001 | 51.8 | High |
| Seo 2017 | Variceal band ligation (86) vs beta‐blockers (86) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 24 | High |
| Shah 2014 | Variceal band ligation (86) vs beta‐blockers (82) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2007–2011 | 13.3 | High |
| Singh 2012 | Variceal band ligation (18) vs beta‐blockers (20) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 12 | High |
| Song 1999 | Variceal band ligation (31) vs beta‐blockers (30) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1996–1998 | 12 | High |
| Thuluvath 2005 | Variceal band ligation (16) vs beta‐blockers (15) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2000–2002 | 27.4 | High |
| Tripathi 2009 | Variceal band ligation (75) vs beta‐blockers (77) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
2000–2006 | 20 | High |
| Lay 1997 | Variceal band ligation (62) vs no active intervention (64) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1993–1995 | 13.5 | High |
| Lo 1999 | Variceal band ligation (64) vs no active intervention (63) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1992–1995 | 29 | High |
| Svoboda 1999 | Variceal band ligation (52) vs no active intervention (50) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1994–1997 | 25 | High |
| Andreani 1990 | Sclerotherapy (42) vs beta‐blockers (43) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1988 | 24 | High |
| PROVA study group 1991 | Sclerotherapy (73) vs beta‐blockers (68) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| Kanazawa 1993 | Sclerotherapy (32) vs beta‐blockers (33) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1987–1992 | 31 | High |
| Snady 1988 | Sclerotherapy (15) vs beta‐blockers (14) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| Tomikawa 2004 | Sclerotherapy (13) vs beta‐blockers (12) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with alcohol‐related cirrhosis and without alcohol relate Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1999–2000 | 13.5 | High |
| VA Coop. Variceal Sclerotherapy Group 1991 | Sclerotherapy (143) vs no active intervention (138) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1985–1986 | 47 | High |
| PROVA study group 1991 | Sclerotherapy (73) vs no active intervention (72) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| De Franchis 1991 | Sclerotherapy (55) vs no active intervention (51) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1987 | 24 | High |
| Duhamel 1994 | Sclerotherapy (57) vs no active intervention (60) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1985–1988 | 30 | High |
| Fleig 1988 | Sclerotherapy (16) vs no active intervention (24) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 28.8 | High |
| Paquet 1982 | Sclerotherapy (31) vs no active intervention (32) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1978–1980 | 18 | High |
| Paquet 1994 | Sclerotherapy (44) vs no active intervention (45) | No participants had small varices | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1987–1992 | 33 | High |
| Piai 1988 | Sclerotherapy (71) vs no active intervention (69) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1983–1985 | 13 | High |
| Quer 1991 | Sclerotherapy (22) vs no active intervention (24) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 16 | High |
| Rossi 1991 | Sclerotherapy (18) vs no active intervention (19) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1984–1988 | 36.6 | High |
| Russo 1989 | Sclerotherapy (21) vs no active intervention (20) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Yes (not stated) | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1984–1985 | 18 | High |
| Santangelo 1988 | Sclerotherapy (49) vs no active intervention (46) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: participants with and without autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1985–1987 | 13 | High |
| Sauerbruch 1988 | Sclerotherapy (68) vs no active intervention (65) | No participants had small varices | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1982–1986 | 22 | High |
| Snady 1988 | Sclerotherapy (15) vs no active intervention (15) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| Strauss 1999 | Sclerotherapy (19) vs no active intervention (21) | All participants had small varices | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1984–1989 | 60 | High |
| Svoboda 1999 | Sclerotherapy (55) vs no active intervention (50) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1994–1997 | 25 | High |
| Witzel 1985 | Sclerotherapy (56) vs no active intervention (53) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1978–1983 | 25 | High |
| Wordehoff 1987 | Sclerotherapy (25) vs no active intervention (24) | No participants had small varices | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1978–1983 | 44 | High |
| Svoboda 1999 | Sclerotherapy (55) vs variceal band ligation (52) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1994–1997 | 25 | High |
| Lo 2010 | Beta‐blockers + variceal band ligation (70) vs beta‐blockers (70) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 26 | High |
| NCT00921349 | Beta‐blockers + variceal band ligation (Not stated) vs beta‐blockers (not stated) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
2004–2009 | Not stated | High |
| Seo 2017 | Beta‐blockers + variceal band ligation (87) vs beta‐blockers (86) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 24 | High |
| Agarwal 2001 | Beta‐blockers + Variceal band ligation (46) vs variceal band ligation (46) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 8 | High |
| Bonilha 2015 | Beta‐blockers + Variceal band ligation (34) vs variceal band ligation (32) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2008–2011 | 12 | High |
| Seo 2017 | Beta‐blockers + Variceal band ligation (87) vs variceal band ligation (86) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 24 | High |
| D'Amico 2002 | Beta‐blockers + nitrates (30) vs beta‐blockers (27) | No | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1992–1996 | 31 | Low |
| Deplano 2001 | Beta‐blockers + nitrates (14) vs beta‐blockers (22) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: not stated Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
Not stated | 14 | High |
| Merkel 2000 | Beta‐blockers + nitrates (72) vs beta‐blockers (74) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1991–1994 | 55 | High |
| Piscaglia 1998 | Beta‐blockers + nitrates (10) vs no active intervention (8) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (not stated) | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: all participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
Not stated | 1 | High |
| Wang 2006 | Beta‐blockers + nitrates (31) vs variceal band ligation (30) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
2002–2004 | 23.3 | High |
| Angelico 1993 | Nitrates (57) vs beta‐blockers (61) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1988–1990 | 44 | High |
| Borroni 2002 | Nitrates (27) vs beta‐blockers (25) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: participants with and without viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: participants with and without other causes of cirrhosis |
1994–1998 | 18 | High |
| Lui 2002 | Nitrates (62) vs beta‐blockers (66) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated | 1994–1999 | 19.7 | High |
| Fassio 1993 | Nitrates (23) vs No active intervention (19) | Not stated | All participants had high risk of bleeding | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1989–1991 | 10.7 | High |
| Lui 2002 | Nitrates (62) vs Variceal band ligation (44) | Not stated | Participants with and without high risk of bleeding | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1994–1999 | 19.7 | High |
| PROVA study group 1991 | Beta‐blockers + sclerotherapy (73) vs beta‐blockers (68) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| Snady 1988 | Beta‐blockers + sclerotherapy (12) vs beta‐blockers (14) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| PROVA study group 1991 | Beta‐blockers + Sclerotherapy (73) vs no active intervention (72) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| Snady 1988 | Beta‐blockers + sclerotherapy (12) vs no active intervention (15) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| PROVA study group 1991 | Beta‐blockers + sclerotherapy (73) vs sclerotherapy (73) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (encephalopathy) | Alcohol‐related: participants with and without alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: not stated Autoimmune‐related: not stated Other: not stated |
1985–1989 | 15.4 | High |
| Snady 1988 | Beta‐blockers + sclerotherapy (12) vs sclerotherapy (15) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1982–1986 | 12 | High |
| Conn 1969 | Portocaval shunt (13) vs no active intervention (16) | Not stated | Not stated | Yes (ascites) | Alcohol‐related: all participants had alcohol‐related cirrhosis Viral‐related: no participants had viral‐related cirrhosis Autoimmune‐related: no participants had autoimmune disease‐related cirrhosis Other: no participants had other causes of cirrhosis |
1965–1968 | 19.1 | High |