Hepatopulmonary syndrome

As hepatopulmonary syndrome refers to a pathological reduction in lung function, which may occur as a complication of severe liver failure.

Cause

A major function of the liver is the degradation of exogenous and endogenous substances. This degradation is at endogenous substances in a steady state for their education. Due to the failure of most of the liver function and vasodilator substances such as nitric oxide are removed to an insufficient degree from the bloodstream. Thus, the pulmonary capillaries beyond the normal scope be expanded. As a result, flows in comparison to the oxygen supply too much blood in the lungs. This is called a ventilation-perfusion mismatch.

Symptoms

The affected patients report shortness of breath, which gets worse when standing. Often hyperventilation is observed.

Diagnostics

A blood gas analysis while standing shows a drop in the oxygen content of the blood under 70mmHg. A difference between the oxygen content of arterial blood and alveolar space indicates not oxygenated blood in the pulmonary circulation. Proving is a Lungenperfusionsszintigraphie.

Therapy

The shortness of breath can be easily and quickly be corrected by the administration of 100 % oxygen in the rule. To restore the liver function is so far only the liver transplant is available.

History of Medicine

The hepatopulmonale syndrome was defined as a disease in 1984.