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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
[Hepatopulmonary syndrome characteristics in hepatic cirrhosis associated with COPD]
Aim:
To evaluate specific features of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in patients with cirrhosis and cirrhosis associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Material And Methods:
We made a retrospective analysis of case histories of 75 patients with hepatic cirrhosis (HC) of different etiology. The patients were divided into two groups: 23 patients with HC and COPD (group 1); 52 patients with HC without COPD (group 2). The patients were examined with spirography, gasometry. Single-breath carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (Dlco), TCO and TCO/VA were estimated. Transthoracic contrast-enhanced echocardiography was conducted for detection of intrapulmonary bypass in AaDO2 > 15 mm Hg.
Results:
COPD stage I and II were diagnosed in 14 of 23 and 9 of 23 patients of group 1, respectively. TCO and TCO/VA had a trend to lowering in group 1 (p > 0.05). PaO2 was lower (p < 0.05) while AaDO2 was higher (p < 0.05) in group 1. Four patients of group I had intrapulmonary bypasses: of the first degree (2 patients with hypoxemia) and of the first and second degree (2 patients with normoxemia). In group 2 three patients had intrapulmonary bypasses: of the fourth degree in 1 patient with hypoxemia and of the first and second degree in 2 patients with normoxemia.
Conclusion:
HC patients with COPD had more severe hypoxemia. Mild and moderate HPS were registered in both groups. In COPD the risk of HPS is 3 times higher.
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