title: Exercise capacity of cirrhotic patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by a clinical triad of liver disease and/or portal hypertension, intrapulmonary vascular dilatation and abnormal arterial oxygenation. These conditions can worsen muscle strength, exercise capacity and functionality in the affected population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare exercise capacity, functional condition and respiratory muscle strength in cirrhotic patients diagnosed with HPS and cirrhotic patients without this diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample consisting of 178 patients (92 patients with HPS and 86 patients without HPS) with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis caused by either alcohol consumption or the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) was used to verify exercise capacity, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to test functionality, and manovacuometry was used to evaluate the strength of the respiratory muscles. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Student's t-test were used for the statistical analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.00, and p < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group of patients with the diagnosis of HPS exhibited a lower VO2 peak (14.2 ± 2.3 vs. 17.6 ± 2.6, p < 0.001), shorter distance walked in the 6MWT (340.8 ± 50.9 vs. 416.5 ± 91.4, p < 0.001), lower maximal inspiratory pressure (-49.1 ± 9.8 vs. -74.2 ± 13.9, p = 0.001) and lower maximum expiratory pressure (60.1 ± 12.2 vs. 76.8 ± 14.7, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The group of cirrhotic patients diagnosed with HPS exhibited lower values for VO2 peak, distance walked in the 6MWT and respiratory muscle strength than the cirrhotic patients not diagnosed with HPS.
authors: Graduate Program in Hepatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre Brazil.
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Faustini-Pereira
authors: Graduate Program in Hepatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre Brazil.
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Homercher-Galant
authors: Graduate Program in Hepatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre Brazil.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Garcia
authors: Postgraduate Program in Medicine: Hepatology, Universida de Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre Brazil. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Liver Transplantation Group, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Ajácio Bandeira
authors: AB
authors: de Mello Brandão
authors: Graduate Program in Hepatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre Brazil. (Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre)-Rio Grande do Sul state-Brazil. Rio Grande do Sul State - Brazil.
authors: Cláudio A
authors: CA
authors: Marroni
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology