Prevalence and reversibility of the hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplantation. The Cleveland Clinic experience.

Abstract

To ascertain the prevalence and reversibility of the hepatopulmonary syndrome, we reviewed the cases of 98 patients undergoing liver transplantation at the Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic Foundation from June 1988 through July 1992 and identified 4 patients with clinically recognized hepatopulmonary syndrome (prevalence 4%). All 4 patients ultimately had complete reversal of their disorder. As reviewed herein, the prevalence of the hepatopulmonary syndrome in the current series is lower than in previous reports, possibly reflecting a dependence on its clinical recognition in this series rather than the use of routine screening tests. This report confirms previous experience that the hepatopulmonary syndrome may be reversible after transplantation.