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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2014; 20(10): 2586-2594
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2586
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2586
Cirrhosis and hepatopulmonary syndrome
Gokhan Tumgor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, 01380 Sarıcam, Adana, Turkey
Author contributions: Tumgor G solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Gokhan Tumgor, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, 01380 Sarıcam, Adana, Turkey. gtumgor74@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-506-5443280 Fax: +90-322-3386060-3116
Received: October 27, 2013
Revised: January 5, 2014
Accepted: January 20, 2014
Published online: March 14, 2014
Revised: January 5, 2014
Accepted: January 20, 2014
Published online: March 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an important complication of cirrhosis. HPS is a significant factor in dyspnea and cyanosis in cirrhotic cases. At present, the most effective and only radical treatment is a liver transplant. Cirrhotic patients who are on the waiting list for a liver transplant have a shorter survival period if they develop HPS. Therefore, it is suggested that all cirrhotic cases should be followed closely for HPS and they should have priority in the waiting list. This review aims to reevaluate the recent progress in the diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of HPS.