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Multicenter Study
. 2009 May 1;179(9):835-42.
doi: 10.1164/rccm.200809-1472OC. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Genetic risk factors for portopulmonary hypertension in patients with advanced liver disease

Kari E Roberts  1 , Michael B Fallon, Michael J Krowka, Robert S Brown, James F Trotter, Inga Peter, Hocine Tighiouart, James A Knowles, Daniel Rabinowitz, Raymond L Benza, David B Badesch, Darren B Taichman, Evelyn M Horn, Steven Zacks, Neil Kaplowitz, Steven M Kawut; Pulmonary Vascular Complications of Liver Disease Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Genetic risk factors for portopulmonary hypertension in patients with advanced liver disease

Kari E Roberts et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. .

Abstract

Rationale: Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) occurs in 6% of liver transplant candidates. The pathogenesis of this complication of portal hypertension is poorly understood.

Objectives: To identify genetic risk factors for PPHTN in patients with advanced liver disease.

Methods: We performed a multicenter case-control study of patients with portal hypertension. Cases had a mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance >240 dynes.s(-1).cm(-5), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure < or =15 mm Hg. Controls had a right ventricular systolic pressure < 40 mm Hg (if estimated) and normal right-sided cardiac morphology by transthoracic echocardiography. We genotyped 1,079 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 93 candidate genes in each patient.

Measurements and main results: The study sample included 31 cases and 104 controls. Twenty-nine SNPs in 15 candidate genes were associated with the risk of PPHTN (P < 0.05). Multiple SNPs in the genes coding for estrogen receptor 1, aromatase, phosphodiesterase 5, angiopoietin 1, and calcium binding protein A4 were associated with the risk of PPHTN. The biological relevance of one of the aromatase SNPs was supported by an association with plasma estradiol levels.

Conclusions: Genetic variation in estrogen signaling and cell growth regulators is associated with the risk of PPHTN. These biologic pathways may elucidate the mechanism for the development of PPHTN in certain patients with severe liver disease.

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Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.
Estradiol levels and aromatase genotype adjusted for sex (test for trend, P = 0.03; n = 126). Median, interquartile range (box), and adjacent values (whiskers) are shown. Aromatase genotype distribution: GG (n = 88), AG (n = 34), AA (n = 4).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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