201. Impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in liver transplantation candidates and the role of angiogenesis.
- Author
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Kawut SM, Krowka MJ, Forde KA, Al-Naamani N, Krok KL, Patel M, Bartoli CR, Doyle M, Moutchia J, Lin G, Oh JK, Mottram CD, Scanlon PD, and Fallon MB
- Subjects
- Adult, Humans, Middle Aged, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Prospective Studies, Severity of Illness Index, End Stage Liver Disease, Hepatopulmonary Syndrome complications, Hypertension, Portal complications, Liver Transplantation
- Abstract
Background: Hepatopulmonary syndrome affects 10-30% of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. We evaluated the serum angiogenic profile of hepatopulmonary syndrome and assessed the clinical impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients evaluated for liver transplantation., Methods: The Pulmonary Vascular Complications of Liver Disease 2 study was a multicentre, prospective cohort study of adults undergoing their first liver transplantation evaluation. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was defined as an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient ≥15 mmHg (≥20 mmHg if age >64 years), positive contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography and absence of lung disease., Results: We included 85 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome and 146 patients without hepatopulmonary syndrome. Patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had more complications of portal hypertension and slightly higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Na score compared to those without hepatopulmonary syndrome (median (interquartile range) 15 (12-19) versus 14 (10-17), p=0.006). Hepatopulmonary syndrome patients had significantly lower 6-min walk distance and worse functional class. Hepatopulmonary syndrome patients had higher circulating angiopoietin 2, Tie2, tenascin C, tyrosine protein kinase Kit (c-Kit), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and von Willebrand factor levels, and lower E-selectin levels. Patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1.80, 95% CI 1.03-3.16, p=0.04), which persisted despite adjustment for covariates (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.02-3.15, p=0.04). This association did not vary based on levels of oxygenation, reflecting the severity of hepatopulmonary syndrome., Conclusion: Hepatopulmonary syndrome was associated with a profile of abnormal systemic angiogenesis, worse exercise and functional capacity, and an overall increased risk of death., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright ©The authors 2022. For reproduction rights and permissions contact permissions@ersnet.org.)
- Published
- 2022
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