Progress in investigating the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome is complicated and remains unknown. This review aims to provide an updated knowledge about the pathogenesis of the syndrome.


METHODS
Five medical databases, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, OVID, Springer Link, and Wiley InterScience were searched for articles on "hepatopulmonary syndrome", "cirrhosis", "angiogenesis", "intestinal endotoxemia", "nitric oxide", "carbon monoxide", and other related subjects.


RESULTS
Currently, imbalance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction, intestinal bacterial translocation, intestinal endotoxemia, and activation of the lung monocyte/macrophage system may play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Recent studies found that angiogenesis is also an important factor in the pathogenesis of experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiogenesis inhibition may be a potential approach for the treatment of hepatopulmonary syndrome in the future.
Zhang
Zhao-Jie
ZJ
Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yang
Chang-Qing
CQ
D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology