Supine Exercise in Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Patients With Orthodeoxia

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare condition that presents in about a quarter of patients with liver cirrhosis. In addition, a small subset of these HPS patients also have orthodeoxia, defined as a drop in oxygen levels when they are sitting up (upright), as opposed to lying flat (supine). At present, there is little known about this condition. Patients diagnosed with HPS and orthodeoxia experience reduced ability to exercise, especially when upright. While standard cardiopulmonary exercise is routinely performed in the sitting position, there are machines that enable candidates to exercise in the supine position. This is especially relevant in patients with severe HPS, with clinically significant orthodeoxia, where conventional upright exercise is difficult. Currently there is a gap in the literature regarding the efficacy of supine exercise compared to upright exercise in these patients. Due to their improvement in dyspnea when lying supine, it is predicted that these patients will be able to exercise for a greater length of time and have increased exercise capacity, which can be projected to improve outcomes pre- and post-transplant.

Overall, HPS patients tend to experience hypoxemia and exercise limitation. Exercise limitation impacts quality of life, incidence and severity of comorbid conditions, and in those who are liver transplant candidates, low exercise tolerance deleteriously impacts transplant outcomes. Accordingly, a strategy that enables patients to exercise more often and/or for longer periods would offer direct benefits to patients with HPS, and if employed as part of an exercise program, could also improve exercise capacity, and thus, liver transplant outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of supine, compared to upright position on exercise in patients with HPS and orthodeoxia. We hypothesize that these patients will be able to exercise for longer in the supine compared to the upright position, given improved oxygen levels when supine.

This is a 1 year randomized crossover controlled trial study of the effect of supine exercise position (intervention arm) compared to the upright exercise position (control arm) within 4 weeks. This is a single-center study conducted at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.

The exercise will be performed at a constant work rate, individualized for each participant. Peak work rate will be calculated using results from the most recent room air 6-minute walk test (6MWT), within the past 6 months. The equation used to estimate peak work rate is: Peak Work Rate = 0.168 x 6MWD (m) - 4.085 (ref Kozu Respirology 2010). The individualized constant work rate will be set at 70-80% of this estimated peak work rate.

The main stopping criterion will be the point at which, after standardized encouragement, the subject is unable to continue because of symptoms (i.e. patient does not wish to continue or cannot maintain a minimum peddling frequency of 40 rpm for ≥ 10 seconds). This is defined as the "tolerable limit" (tLIM). Additional safety-related stopping criteria will include: the appearance of life-threatening arrhythmias, a drop in systolic blood pressure by ≥ 10 mm Hg from baseline, or a desaturation below a set point for ≥ 30 s. The set saturation point will be chosen individually for each patient, as the lower of: 80% or the lowest saturation seen on room air 6MWT.

Exercise tests in each position, for each subject, will be standardized with respect to the proper seat adjustment relative to leg length and pedaling cadence (50-60 rpm). Inspiratory capacity will be measured before and after the exercise maneuver.

The cycle ergometer resistance will be set to the pre-determined constant work rate, as described above. There will be continuous monitoring of saturation, ECG, gas exchange, blood pressure, and subjective dyspnea/leg fatigue (Borg scale), with standardized verbal encouragement throughout. Participants will be asked to bring running shoes and comfortable exercise clothes, ensure that they have eaten before the test, to take all usual medications, and to avoid major exercise for 24 hours before the test.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of moderate HPS (defined by liver disease, hypoxemia \[PaO2 \< 80 mmHg and AaDo2 (alveolar-arterial PO2 difference) ≥ 15 mmHg or ≥ 20 mmHg if age \> 64 years\] and IPVD (intrapulmonary vasodilatations) as shown by contrast echocardiography\])
2. Presence of orthodeoxia (PaO2 decrease by \>4 mmHg when patient moves from supine to upright position).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pulmonary hypertension (echocardiographic estimated right ventricular systolic pressure \>/=50 mmHg and/or right heart catheterization mean pulmonary artery pressure \>25 mmHg with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure \</= 15 mmHg);
2. Significant obstructive ventilatory impairment (FEV1/FVC ratio \< 0.65) (FEV=forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC=forced vital capacity)
3. Known significant coronary artery disease;
4. Significant neurologic, orthopedic or rheumatological disorders preventing the use of a cycle ergometer;
5. Other absolute contraindications to submaximal tests (uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia with hemodynamic compromise, symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, decompensated heart failure and acute cardiopulmonary illness);
6. Moderate or severe ascites.