The relationship between hepatopulmonary syndrome and altitude.

Background: In a previous small retrospective study, the authors reported that hepatopulmonary syndrome was less common among liver transplant candidates at high-altitude centres compared with low-altitude centres.

Objective: To further explore the relationship between hepatopulmonary syndrome and altitude of residence in a larger patient cohort.

Methods: A cohort of 65,264 liver transplant candidates in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network liver database between 1988 and 2006 was analyzed.