[Dyspnea with hypoxemia in a case of cirrhosis with portal hypertension].

Following insertion of a Leveen's valve after surgical portocaval anastomosis, a male patient with alcoholic cirrhosis developed dyspnoea with hypoxaemia. An interstitial syndrome was present in the lower lobes. Other findings were: polycythaemia (Hb 20 g/100 ml), subnormal spirometric values, decrease in CO transfer capacity, normal pulmonary compliance, absence of intracardiac shunt and pulmonary arterial hypertension and absence of bronchial or alveolar lesions on a surgical lung biopsy. Blood gas measurements and radioisotope explorations led to the conclusion that the patient had an anatomical shunt predominant in the lower parts of the lungs, associated with a shunt effect and a transfer disorder. The anatomical shunt was due to pulmonary arteriovenous microfistulae, some of which were visualized by superselective angiography. Catheterization of the portocaval anastomosis eliminated any shunt between the portal system and the pulmonary veins.