Guide To Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Warning Signs

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a condition characterized by low blood oxygen levels that are a result of small artery dilation in the lungs of liver disease patients. Due to the enlargement of blood vessels in the lungs, the red blood cells are unable to absorb oxygen properly. Poor oxygen absorption means the lungs and the circulatory system are unable to provide sufficient amounts of oxygen to the rest of the body. Hepatopulmonary syndrome could be a result of impaired clearance by the liver of chemicals that relax the blood vessels called vasodilators. It could also be the result of increased production of vasodilators, or it could be due to a decreased production of vasoconstrictors, chemicals that contract the blood vessels. The only treatment known to be effective for hepatopulmonary syndrome is a liver transplant.