title: De novo diagnosis of portopulmonary hypertension following liver transplantation.
abstract: Portopulmonary hypertension occurs in 2-8% of liver recipients. However, new onset of pulmonary hypertension following liver transplantation has been reported only once. We report de novo occurrences of portopulmonary hypertension in two liver recipients following successful liver transplantation. Although both patients had recurrent hepatitis C after the transplant, both had excellent clinical graft function. In one patient, upper endoscopy and aortogram showed evidence of persistent venous collaterals in the abdomen. Both patients presented with shortness of breath. Portopulmonary hypertension was diagnosed late, thus contributing directly to their deaths. Autopsy in one patient confirmed the absence of significant liver pathology and failed to demonstrate any source of deep venous thrombosis. This, and our earlier case report, highlights the potential for the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension following liver transplantation. Further studies are needed to determine the scope of the problem and identify patients at risk for this complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
authors.forename: Baburao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koneru
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Dorian J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: delaTorre
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seguel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha