EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEVERITY OF LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a slowly progressive disease that involves inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. Certain pulmonary complications are observed frequently in cirrhotic patients include hypoxemia, hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension. The aim is to evaluate the frequency of hypoxemia and impairment of PFT in patients with liver cirrhosis and to determine their relation to the severity of liver disease. Methods: 45 patients with liver cirrhosis aged from 18years to 60years. Not smokers or have cardiac diseases or have Hepatocellular Carcinoma or any pulmonary problem. Patients subjected to history taking, clinical examination, chest X-ray, Electrocardiography, Abdominal U/S, Complete Blood picture, Fasting Blood Glucose, Liver Profile, serum creatine, hepatitis markers for B and C virus, , and Pulmonary function tests (Arterial Blood Gases, Spirometry and DLCO). Results: the study revealed that (28.8%) of all patients had hypoxia which more common in child C and patients with ascites. Restrictive ventilatory function present in (62.2%) of all patients and more common in patients with ascites. Conclusion: In conclusion, patients suffering from severe liver cirrhosis and ascites, have significant reduction in ( Pa02 ) and ( Sa02 ) in association with restrictive pulmonary function pattern (up to 100% of patients with massive ascites). As a result, pulmonary resistance is impaired and patients are more liable to infection and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Thus prognosis in those patients is poor on the basis of both hepatic and pulmonary disease.