title: Portopulmonary hypertension: an update.
abstract: Portopulmonary hypertension represents a serious lung vascular disorder, defined as the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension that is associated with portal hypertension, with or without the presence of significant liver disease. Transthoracic echocardiography represents the single best initial tool for the diagnostic evaluation in portopulmonary hypertension, and right heart catheterization remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. Despite the lack of randomized controlled trials in portopulmonary hypertension, some therapies have demonstrated improvements in cardiopulmonary haemodynamics and right ventricular function as described in case reports and case series. Specialists should be able to recognize indications and contraindications for liver transplantation in the setting of portopulmonary hypertension, and this review focuses on the appropriate diagnostic approach and current advances in medical therapies. Recognition of patients eligible for liver transplantation is needed to improve quality of life and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center/Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Mateo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porres-Aguilar
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins
keywords: liver disease; liver transplantation; portal hypertension; portopulmonary hypertension; pulmonary arterial hypertension