title: [Hepatopulmonary syndrome causing severe hypoxaemia].
abstract: Dyspnoea is a common complaint in patients with chronic liver disease. Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an important cause to be aware of in the setting of liver disease, dyspnoea and hypoxaemia. HPS causes microvascular dilatation, angiogenesis and arteriovenous bypassing. The patients suffer from hypoxaemia in upright position and even during minimal psychical activity. Contrast echocardiography, using micro-bubbles as the contrast, is required to establish the diagnosis. No medical therapy is available, only liver transplantation can cure the disease.
authors.forename: Bente Kjær
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lyngsøe
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk Afdeling, Regionshospitalet Herning, Gl. Landevej 61, 7400 Herning. meteader@rm.dk.
authors.forename: Mette Winther
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.forename: Gerda Elisabeth
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Villadsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged