Highlights of the ERS Task Force on pulmonary-hepatic vascular disorders (PHD).

A Task Force on Pulmonary-Hepatic Vascular Diseases (PHD), approved and funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), was developed by a panel of chest physicians, hepatologists and gastroenterologists during the period 2002–03 and published in 2004 [1]. The major goals of this ERS Task Force on PHD are: (1) to increase awareness of both hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) in the medical community to combat their growing morbidity and mortality; (2) to optimise their diagnosis and management; and, (3) to stimulate research interest. The current document summarises the most important aspects.