PREVALENCE OF HEPATOPULMONARY SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic illness encountered both at primary and tertiary care level. Development of lung manifestations in cirrhosis has several clinical repercussions because they carry a poor prognosis. These include pleural effusion, obstructive and restrictive lung disease, hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary syndrome. HPS is a triad of hypoxemia, liver disease and intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. The prevalence of HPS in cirrhosis has been reported between 4-19%.