Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jul 2000
Case ReportsSuccessful use of continuous intravenous prostacyclin in a patient with severe portopulmonary hypertension.
Portopulmonary hypertension, defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure > 25 mm Hg in the presence of normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and portal hypertension, is a known complication of end-stage liver disease that has been associated with high morbidity and mortality at the time of liver transplantation. ⋯ In this adult patient suffering from end-stage liver disease and portopulmonary hypertension, administration of continuous intravenous epoprostenol resulted in significant reduction of pulmonary hypertension and therefore in acceptance for orthotopic liver transplantation. Utilisation of this new therapeutic strategy might be a helpful pharmacological tool for patients with portopulmonary hypertension to make them acceptable for orthotopic liver transplantation.