Hepatopulmonary

liver411

SourceURL:http://www.gastrohep.com/news/news.asp?id=2307

Hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with cirrhosis

The presence of hepatopulmonary syndrome independently worsens prognosis of
patients with cirrhosis, find physicians in the latest issue of
Gastroenterology.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is defined by chronic liver disease,
arterial deoxygenation, and widespread intrapulmonary vasodilation.

Mortality is high, however the effect of HPS on survival in patients with
cirrhosis is unclear.

In this study, physicians from Austria evaluated 111 patients with cirrhosis.

They used transthoracic contrast echocardiography to detect pulmonary
vasodilation, blood gas analysis, and pulmonary function.

In addition, they collected data on 20 clinical characteristics, and
recorded survival rates.
Hepatopulmonary syndrome patients had significantly higher mortality.
Gastroenterolgy

The team found that 24% of patients had HPS.

These patients had significantly higher mortality, compared with patients
without HPS. This difference remained, even after adjustment for liver
disease severity, and the exclusion of patients who underwent liver
transplantation during follow-up.

The physicians identified causes of death as predominantly nonpulmonary and
liver-related.

They determined that HPS was an independent predictor of survival, in
addition to patient age, Child-Pugh class, and blood urea nitrogen.

Furthermore, mortality correlated with the severity of HPS.

Dr Peter Schenk's team concluded, "The presence of HPS independently
worsens prognosis of patients with cirrhosis".

"This should influence patient management and scoring systems and
accelerate the evaluation process for liver transplantation".

Gastroenterology 2003; 125(4):
02 October 2003

"Enlightenment does not come 'by imagining figures of light but by making
the darkness conscious.'"  (Jung)