Published in IJCP
November 2018
GASTROENTEROLGY
Role of ß-blockers in Prevention of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in Chronic Liver Disease: An Observation
November 04, 2018 | Ashish Gautam, Prabhat Agrawal, Ashwini Nigam
Aim: Study was initiated to study the presence of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in chronic liver disease patients, and role
of ß-blockers in its occurrence. Methods: Patients admitted in Dept. of Medicine and patients attending the Medicine OPD were
examined and investigated for presence of HDS irrespective of its typical clinical features as explained in the literature. Patients
having ascites or pleural effusion were managed by means of paracentesis and pleural tap first and then included in the study.
Patients having any other primary pulmonary disease like bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were
excluded from the study. Arterial blood gas analysis and contrast-enhanced echocardiography was done to confirm presence of
arterial hypoxemia and pulmonary shunt, the diagnostic criteria. Results: During 1 year study, total 125 patients were enrolled
in the study after appropriate selection criteria. Twenty-eight out of 125 patients were not taking propranolol. Propranolol is
contraindicated in these patients for one or two reasons. Four out of these 28 patients developed HPS. One out of 97 patients
who were on propranolol developed HPS. Total five patients were confirmed having HPS. The Fisher’s exact test statistic value
is 0.008887. The result is significant at p < 0.01. Conclusion: Patients of cirrhosis with portal hypertension on treatment with
propranolol were having significantly lower chances of development of HPS then those without propranolol. Propranolol may
have preventive role for development of HPS.
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