Hepatopulmonary Syndrome with Right-to-left Shunt in Cirrhotic Patients Using Macro-Aggregated Albumin Lung Perfusion Scan: Comparison with Contrast Echocardiography and Association with Clinical Data
Journal Title: Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy - Year 2020, Vol 29, Issue 1
Abstract
Objectives: The diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) which is a common complication in cirrhotic patients is still subject to debate. This study investigated the association of clinical findings with HPS in cirrhotic patients using macro-aggregated albumin lung perfusion scan (99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy). In addition, comparison between 99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy and contrast echocardiography (CEE) in detection of HPS was also performed. Methods: In this study, 27 patients with cirrhosis underwent 99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy and contrast echocardiography comparison CEE and the frequency of HPS was assessed in them and also was compared across the other variables. Results: The 99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy showed HPS in 13 patients (48.1%) while CEE demonstrated HPS in 5 patients with cirrhosis (18.51%). HPS was mild in 40.74% (11/27) of the patients, and severe in only 2 patients. There was no relationship between gender, disease duration, having diagnosis of disease previously, pulmonary symptoms and Child-Pugh score variations and HPS (p>0.05). Comparison of hemodynamic indices, arterial blood gas analysis and laboratory indices between patients with and without HPS was also non-significant (p value >0.05). Among coagulation factors assessed in cirrhotic patients, we found only significant correlation between HPS and prothrombin time (p<0.05). Conclusion: HPS, particularly its mild form, is noted in a great number of patients with cirrhosis using 99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy. Because of its technical ease, and possibility to obtain objective quantitative information, 99mTc-MAA lung scintigraphy can be complementary to other diagnostic methods in the evaluation of HPS assessment, although additional studies are needed.
Authors and Affiliations
Zeynab Alipour, Abbas Armin, Sudabeh Mohamadi, Seyed Masoud Tabib, Zahra Azizmohammadi, Ali Gholamrezanezhad, Majid Assadi
Keywords
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- EP ID EP684459
- DOI 10.4274/mirt.galenos.2019.30301
- Views 162
- Downloads 0
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