In patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, wedged hepatic venous pressure closely reflects portal venous pressure. This study was carried out to determine if propranolol-induced reductions in portal venous pressure are accurately evaluated by the measurement of wedged hepatic venous pressure. Hepatic venous cannulation and percutaneous transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein were simultaneously performed in 7 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. One hour after oral administration of 40 mg of propranolol, wedged hepatic and portal venous pressures significantly decreased from 24.3 +/- 3.5 (mean +/- SD) to 19.0 +/- 3.0 mmHg, and from 24.7 +/- 3.9 to 22.4 +/- 3.6 mmHg, respectively. Although no significant difference was found between baseline wedged hepatic and portal venous pressures, a significant difference was found between these pressures after propranolol administration. We concluded that during acute administration of a drug acting on the splanchnic circulation, the measurement of wedged hepatic venous pressure may not provide a reliable estimation of the magnitude of the changes in portal venous pressure. There is, however, no evidence that the direction of the changes might not be adequately assessed by wedged hepatic venous pressure measurement.