Complex Etiology in a Case of Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

Porto-pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is the association between portal hypertension (PoH) due to liver disease or extra hepatic etiology and pulmonary hypertension (PH). It’s prevalence ranges between 2 and 16 % (1,2)and it’s diagnosis requires the exclusion of alternative causes of PH which can be sometimes challenging, especially in the context of a wide range of comorbidities that a patient with chronic liver disease can present with. We describe a 72 years-old man with a clinical presentation of right heart failure and signs of severe PH shown by the echocardiography. The blood tests were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and CT-imaging showed signs of cirrhosis and PoH. Complementary exams and review of the literature allowed use to rule out other potential causes constituting the differential diagnosis of the PH in this patient.