Two cases of hepatopulmonary syndrome with improved liver function following long-term oxygen therapy.

Abstract

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a complication of liver disease that is characterized by hypoxemia and intrapulmonary vascular dilatations. The only established therapy for this disorder is liver transplantation. Here, we report two patients (a 63-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man) with HPS associated with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. We gave the patients low-dose oxygen supplementation to improve their respiratory symptoms. Surprisingly, their liver function improved from Child Pugh class C to class A, and ascites disappeared after a year of oxygen supplementation. We believe that long-term oxygen therapy contributed to the improvement of liver function in these two cases. Long-term oxygen therapy might offer a new therapeutic approach to improve liver function in patients with cirrhosis with hypoxemia.

• Authors: Kazuko Y Fukushima, Hiroshi Yatsuhashi, Akitoshi Kinoshita, Toshihito Ueki, Takehiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiko Osumi, Yohjiro Matsuoka
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 42 Issue 2 Pg. 176-80 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 0944-1174 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 17351808 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Female
• Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (therapy)
• Humans
• Liver Function Tests
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
• Time Factors