Hepatopulmonary Syndrome and Portopulmonary Hypertension

Michael J. Krowka

doi:10.1007/s11936-002-0007-3

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome and Portopulmonary Hypertension

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2002 Jun;4(3):267-273. doi: 10.1007/s11936-002-0007-3.

Author

Michael J. Krowka¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, The Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. krowka@mayo.edu

PMID: 12003725
DOI: 10.1007/s11936-002-0007-3

Abstract

In patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome, supplemental oxygen and liver transplantation are the usual treatments of choice. Pharmacologic approaches have limited success in improving hypoxemia. Interventional radiology procedures may improve arterial hypoxemia in highly selected patients. In patients with portopulmonary hypertension, continuous infusion with intravenous epoprostenol (prostaglandin I(2)) can significantly improve pulmonary hemodynamics. Outcome following liver transplantation is variable; increased cardiopulmonary mortality occurs in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension.