Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Prevalence, Clinical Significance, Clinical Features, Therapeutic Approaches

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a severe complication of chronic liver diseases, significantly reducing the quality and duration patient’s lives, pathogenetic manifestation which hypoxemia intrapulmonary vasodilation. The disease widespread enough: according to some authors, up 35 % patients with terminal stage damage suffer from this syndrome. main clinical progressive dyspnea possible occurrence platypnea orthodexia. Diagnosis difficult, since “gold standard” — transthoracic echocardiography intravenous injection contrast agent an invasive procedure requiring specific equipment, that’s why it poorly used in medical institutions Russian Federation. Physical examination as additional method, we see dyspnea, cyanosis, spider nevi, digital clubbing, but these manifestations are not highly specific. Therefore, there urgent need for minimally invasive, diagnostic methods markers that can provide early verification diagnosis. This review presents data on prevalence, pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis treatment aim structure current accumulated experience earlier accordingly, apply optimal management tactics pathology. Liver transplantation currently effective method treatment. Patients hepatopulmonary who underwent have been proven better survival rate.