[Favorable effect of long-term oxygen and vasodilator therapy in a patient with pulmonary hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis].

A 56-year-old male with moderate pulmonary hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis was treated successfully by long term oxygen and vasodilator therapy. Improvement of pulmonary hypertension and clinical symptoms were proved by chest X-ray, ECG, echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Hegglin's phenomenon confirmed by phono- and mechanocardiography may suggest a hyperkinetic state as well as the so-called "energischemetabolische Herzinsufficienz" related to liver cirrhosis. The patient was treated for 18 months. After 2 months of therapy the patient became asymptomatic during modest daily activity, and apparent improvements of hemodynamic parameters were observed thereafter. Long term oxygen and vasodilator therapy in this patient with pulmonary hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis proved as effective as it has been in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.