ABSTRACT
Hepatopulmonary syndrome is defined as the triad of liver disease, arterial hypoxemia, and intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. It complicates a substantial percent of cirrhotic patients and has an impact on survival. Hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of cirrhosis in Egypt. The aim of this study: was to explore the prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome in HCV- induced cirrhotic patients and the risk factors associated with it. Patients and Thirty HCV- induced cirrhotic patients were studied. They underwent careful history taking, through clinical examination, chest X-ray,a complete blood count, prothrombin time, serum albumin, bilirubin, hepatitis markers, abdominal ultrasound, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, arterial blood gases and transthoracic contrast echocardiography. Results' Four patients [13.3%] were found to have HPS. Patients with Hepatopulmonary syndrome had significantly higher Child-Pugh score compared with patients without Hepatopulmonary syndrome. The prevalence of HPS was significantly higher in ChildPugh class C compared with Child-Pugh A. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was not uncommon in HCV- induced cirrhotic patients [13.3. [% The study showed a significant correlation between the severity of liver disease and Hepatopulmonary syndrome