Pulmonary function tests in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension

To determine pulmonary functions in portal hypertension of different etiologies and with various grades of ascites.

Gastrointestinal clinic in a large community based and secondary referral hospital.

Forty five patients with portal hypertension, including 19 cirrhotics with tense ascites, 8 with moderate ascites, 6 with no ascites and 12 patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. All patients underwent basal pulmonary function testing by spirometry and helium dilution technique, and arterial blood gas estimation and measurement of ascitic fluid pressure. Patients with tense ascites underwent paracentesis of up to 2 liters following which ascitic fluid pressure and pulmonary functions were estimated again.

In cirrhotic patients without ascites, FVC (forced vital capacity), RV (residual volume), TLC (total lung capacity) and FRC (functional residual capacity) were lower than predicted values. In patients with ascites, FVC, FEV1 (forced expired volume in one second) and FEF25-75 (forced expired volume in one second) and FEF25-75 (forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity) were significantly lower as compared to predicted values. FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75, pO2, pCO2 and SaO2% decreased significantly with increasing ascites. Paracentesis in patients with tense ascites led to clinical improvement and significantly improved lung volumes.

Pulmonary functions are impaired in patients with cirrhosis, and ascites causes further deterioration. Patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension have normal pulmonary functions.