Liver transplantation in Portopulmonary hypertension: Another piece of the puzzle?.

Abstract

Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a severe complication of portal hypertension, which may develop in the setting of cirrhosis and in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Approximately 5% of patients with end-stage liver disease are affected. PoPH is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to pulmonary arterial flow obstruction, which can ultimately evolve into right heart failure. Diagnostic criteria include a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg, a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤15 mmHg, and a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >3 Woods Units (WU) on right heart catheterization.