VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 1--4 ( January-December, 2025 ) > List of Articles
NH Rekha, JashwanthGowda S, Tushar Kanth Chaudhary
Keywords : Chronic liver disease, Hepatopulmonary syndrome, Pulmonary hypertension
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10045-00321
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 15-01-2025
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2025; The Author(s).
Introduction: Cirrhosis is a diffuse fibrosis and nodular regeneration of the liver due to varied etiology, having a spectrum of clinical manifestations. There is a distinctive trail of connection between the portal system and the lung, which becomes the foremost explanation for the development of pulmonary complications in cirrhotic patients. These changes tend to occur following injury to the vascular endothelium and subsequent development of a dreaded complication, pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), among these patients. The presence of PAH in patients with cirrhosis of the liver is known as portopulmonary hypertension (POPH), which comprises 5–10% of patients with PAH. The diagnosis of POPH has been under-recognized. This study has been carried out to evaluate the frequency of PAH in patients with cirrhosis with portal hypertension and its relation to the severity of liver disease. Objectives: (1) To measure the frequency of PAH in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. (2) To establish a relation between PAH and the severity of cirrhosis of the liver using Child–Pugh grading (A, B, C). Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study involving 100 patients, nonsmokers, diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver between the age-group of 18–60 years, was subjected to history and examination. Investigations conducted were routine blood tests, ultrasound abdomen, Doppler study, and echocardiographic evaluation to assess Pulmonary Artery Pressure check for right atrium and right ventricular (RV) dilatation, evaluate RV systolic function, and assess inferior vena cava (IVC) collapsibility. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were assessed for the severity of liver disease using Child–Pugh grading based on clinical and laboratory criteria as A, B, and C. The severity of PAH was correlated with each grade of liver disease. Results: The mean age of patients was 49 years, with a predominant male population. Out of 100 patients, 23% had PAH of varying severity (3 trivial, 12 mild, 7 moderate, 2 severe). In our study, out of 23 patients with PAH, 3 patients with trivial PAH (25–34 mm Hg) included 1 in grade B and 2 in grade C. Among 12 patients with mild PAH (35–44 mm Hg), 7 were in grade B and 5 were in grade C. Out of 6 patients with moderate PAH (45–59 mm Hg), all 6 were in grade C. The 2 patients with severe PAH (>60 mm Hg) were both in Child's grade C. We found that PASP was significantly correlated with Child's grading (p-value 0.001). The results were statistically significant and showed a positive correlation with Child's grade. Conclusion: Pulmonary manifestations of cirrhosis carry a poor prognosis. A high index of suspicion in patients with refractory ascites, presenting with dyspnea and fatigue, can indicate decompensated disease. Bedside echocardiography is an accessible tool in the evaluation of PAH and related complications of PAH.