Clinical characteristics of hepatopulmonary syndrome and hepatorenal syndrome and associated therapeutic potential of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) are two serious complications of liver disease, causing damage not only to the liver but also to the kidneys, lungs, and heart. HRS and HPS affect the patient's circulatory and respiratory systems, with poor prognosis and high mortality in clinical practice. There is a lack of effective treatment other than liver transplantation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an effective tool to prolong the survival of patients with advanced liver disease and is mainly used to treat portal hypertension and ascites because it can effectively reduce portal pressure. Studies on the treatment of both of these complications with TIPS are limited and deserve further study because the therapeutic effects of TIPS have the potential to improve the prognosis of severe liver disease. This article reviews the clinical features of HRS and HPS, the consequences of these syndromes, and the potential mechanistic effects after TIPS intervention.