TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of dyspnoea in patients with liver cirrhosis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P589 AU - Olga Corlateanu AU - Eugen Tcaciuc AU - Alexandru Corlateanu AU - Angela Tcaciuc Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P589.abstract N2 - Background:Pulmonary involvement is a common complication of liver cirrhosis, mainly owing to a decreased hepatic clearance of toxins or increased hepatic production of circulating inflammatory mediators. The connection between the severity of lung manifestations and liver impairment is not well characterized.The aim of this study was to evaluate and detect predictors of dyspnoea in patients with liver cirrhosis according to the Child-Pugh score.Methods:40 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled into the study. Spirometry (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC), hemoglobin levels, dyspnoea by BORG scale, exercise capacity by 6-min walking test (6MWT), blood gas analysis were evaluated.Results:The patients were classified into three groups, according to cirrhotic severity, using Child's-Pugh classification: A - 7 patients; B - 24 patients; C - 9 patients. There were significant differences (p < 0.01, ANOVA) in dyspnoea assessed by BORG scale between 3 groups: there was demonstrated the increase of dyspnoea with progression of cirrhosis from 0.7 ± 1.9 points in group Child's-Pugh A to 2.4 ± 1.9 points in group Child's-Pugh C. Dyspnoea correlated better with 6-minute walking distance (r = 0.67, p = 0.001) in cirrhotic patients. Also a significant positive correlation between dyspnoea and Child's-Pugh classification (r = 0.60, p = 0.01) was demonstrated. The forward stepwise regression analysis shows that the stage of cirrhosis and level of hemoglobin are important predictors of dyspnoea in patients with liver cirrhosis which explains 60% of the dyspnoea.Conclusion:The Child's-Pugh stage of cirrhosis and level of hemoglobin in patients with liver cirrhosis are independent risk factors for worsening of dyspnoea. ER -