Assessment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with liver disease pre and post liver transplantation

BackgroundBoth hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension are associated with chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is considered a controversial solution.AimThe aim of this work is to assess pulmonary hypertension in liver disease patients pre and post liver transplantation. Studying the impact of pulmonary hypertension on hemodynamic of the patients in hospital after liver transplantation.Patients and methodsEcho cardiographic examination pre and post liver transplantation after at least 3 months was conducted on 20 patients with chronic liver diseases and pulmonary hypertension who underwent liver transplantation to estimate mean PAP and degree of tricuspid regurgitation.ResultsThe present study was conducted on 20 patients consisting of 18 males (90%) and two females (10%) with mean age 47.8 ± 8.9. It showed that mean pulmonary arterial pressure improved after liver transplantation 24.65% ± 17.50.The tricuspid regurgitation before operation was mild in 17 patients (85%) and moderate in three patients (15%) and after operation it become normal in 40% and mild in 60% with improvement in 55% and no improvement in 45% of the patients. There was improvement in dyspnea scale after the operation with one grade change in 35%, two grade change in 55% and three grade change in 10% of patients.ConclusionLiver transplantation was effective in the reduction of pulmonary artery pressure. The degree of pulmonary hypertension affected the functional state according to WHO Classification of pulmonary hypertension patients.