Late recurrence and rapid evolution of severe hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplantation

Recurrence of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in an adult has never been reported. We describe a 23-year-old woman who initially underwent OLT because of debilitating and severe HPS associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Although the clinical resolution of HPS was well documented day 117 post-OLT, the reappearance of NASH was documented by liver biopsy. Severe hypoxemia because of recurrent HPS rapidly evolved beginning approximately day 700 post-OLT. Retransplantation was attempted, but the patient died post-OLT of sepsis and/or multiorgan failure. Copyright (C) 1999 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.