Abstract
A case report of liver cirrhosis accompanied by multiple arteriovenous fistulas of lungs proven by pulmonary angiography is described. The patient, 42 years old male, who sufferd from alcholic liver cirrhosis past years, was admitted due to shortness of breath upon exertion, cyanosis and the presence of clubbed fingers. Wedge pulmonary angiography has disclosed the presence of neumerous pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas which was subsequently confirmed by pleuroscopy providing the characteristic findings of spider naevi of the lung. Liver biopsy specimens taken twice during the course of the illness have demonstrated the transition of histological appearance of the cirrhosis from the wide septum micronodular type to the narrow septum macronodular type.
Concommitant presence of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in cyanotic liver cirrhosis, is rarely confirmed directly by pulmonary angiography.
Possible pathophysiological correlations have been discussed.
