title: Liver transplantation for hepatopulmonary syndrome due to noncirrhotic portal hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatopulmomary syndrome is defined by the triad of chronic liver disease, increased alveolar-arterial gradient, and evidence of intrapulmonary vasodilation. It is commonly seen in association with cirrhosis (90%). Four percent to 8% of the hepatopulmomary syndrome cases are reported in noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The management of patients with hepatopulmomary syndrome due to noncirrhotic portal hypertension is not well described.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 26-year-old woman who underwent liver transplantation for hepatopulmomary syndrome due to noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The patient presented with dyspnea and platypnea, requiring home oxygen therapy. She had orthodexia, severe hypoxemia, and positive bubble echocardiography consistent with hepatopulmomary syndrome. Her Model for End-stage Liver Disease score was 10. Liver biopsy revealed diffuse nodular regenerative hyperplasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient underwent liver transplantation with Model for End-stage Liver Disease exception points. Her oxygen requirements gradually improved during the postoperative period. The patient's symptoms and hypoxemia resolved at 15-month follow-up posttransplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest hepatopulmonary syndrome in this setting is an indication for liver transplantation despite the absence of cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. kma227@uky.edu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maganty
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghanta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bejarano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weppler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation