Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao, M.D.

Professor of Medicine
Chief, Section of Digestive Diseases, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Section of Digestive Diseases
more on this physician

Research Interests

I am primarily involved in clinical research which focuses on chronic liver disease and its complications. A major area of interest is the development of bacterial infections in the cirrhotic patient which are often overlooked and constitute a major complication of cirrhosis. The pathophysiology of bacterial infections, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) remains uncertain and research protocols aimed at determining major pathophysiologic mechanisms as well as identifying risk factors for the development of infections are under way. Since SBP needs a timely diagnosis and treatment, my research studies have also focused on improving ascites culture techniques, developing methods for an earlier diagnosis as well as protocols designed to evaluate different antibiotic regimes in its treatment. Another area of research involves therapeutic modalities in the treatment of ascites which include the use of large volume paracentesis and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. In the area of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage, joint efforts are being made to investigate the usefulness of portal-pressure reducing drugs in the prevention of varices and in their progression. Additionally, studies on the portal and systemic hemodynamic response (evaluated by invasive and non-invasive methods) to different vasoactive drugs is being evaluated.

Clinical Interests

Acute and chronic liver disease; the management of portal hypertension.

Selected Publications

• Garcia-Tsao, G. Treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with oral ofloxacin. Inpatient or outpatient therapy? Gastro 111:1147-1150, 1996.
• Garcia-Tsao, G. Further evidence in favor of pharmacological portal pressure reduction in the prevention of variceal hemorrhage. Gastro 112:1770-1771, 1997.
• Garcia-Tsao, G. Portal hypertension. Curr Opinion Gastro 13:263-270, 1997.
• Escorsell, A., Ferayorni, L., Bosch, J., Garcia-Pagan, J.C., Garcia-Tsao, G., Grace, N.D., Rodes, J., Groszmann, R.J. The portal pressure response to -blockade is greater in cirrhotic patients without varices than in those with varices. Gastro 112:2012-2016, 1997.
• Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhotic ascites: pathogenesis and management. The Gastroenterologist. 1995 3: 41-54
• Garcia-Tsao G. ";Variceal hemorrhage";. Critical Care Clinics. 11(2):391-414, 1995.
• Garcia-Tsao G. Lee FY. Barden GE. Cartun R. West AB. Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes is increased in cirrhotic rats with ascites. Gastroenterology. 108(6):1835-41, 1995.
• Garcia-Tsao G. Barden GE. West AB. Bacterial translocation in acute an chronic portal hypertension. Hepatology 1993 17: 1081-1085.

Contact

Campus Address
Department of Internal Medicine
333 Cedar Street (LMP 1080)
New Haven, CT 06520

E-mail
guadalupe.garcia-tsao@yale.edu

Office Phone
(203) 737-6063