Cholestasis & Gallstones Flashcards
Cholestasis
Functional –> decreased bile flow through the canaliculus & reduced secretion of water, bilirubin and by hepatocytes
Cholestasis
Gross & EM
+Presence of brownish bile pigment w/in dilated canaliculi in hepatocytes
+Microvilli are blunted, in fewer number or absent
–> bile accumulates in large, bile-laden lysosomes
Cholestasis
Symptoms
+ Jaundice: accumulation in blood of materials normally transferred to bile (bilirubin, cholesterol, bile acids)
+Pruritus: deposits of bile acids in skin
+ Skin xanthomas: focal accumulation of cholesterol
+ Intestinal malabsorption: nutritional deficiencies of vit A, D, K
Cholestasis
Etiology
- Bile duct carcinoma
-Enlarged lymph node (Hodkin) - Sclerosing cholangitis
-Postoperative stricture
-Pancreatic carcinoma
-Gallstones
-Congenital biliary atresia
Ascending Cholangitis
Bacterial infection of the bile ducts
Usually 2/2 an “ascending” infection w/ enteric gram NEG bacteria
Ascending Cholangitis
Histology, Sx, Complications
H: neutrophils
Sx: RUQ pain, fever, jaundice (Charcot triad)
Comp: Suppurative cholangitis, Sepsis
Suppurative Cholangitis
Severe form of cholangitis
Includes hypotension & mental confusion (Reynold’s pentad)
Sepsis (rather than cholangitis –> grave prognosis
Gross: purulent bile fills & distends bile ducts
Chronic biliary obstruction
Complications
-If uncorrected
-Hepatic scarring & regenerative nodule formation
-Secondary or obstructive biliary cirrhosis
-Ascending cholangitis may be superimposed on this chronic process –> some trigger acute on chronic liver failure
Chronic biliary obstruction
Micro
Feathery degeneration of periportal hepatocytes
-Hydropic swelling
-Diffuse impregnation w/ bile pigment
-Reticulated appearance
Formation of bile infarcts from detergent effects of extravasated bile
Secondary or Obstructive Biliary Cirrhosis
Complications of uncorrected biliary obstructions
Cirrhosis – destruction of normal liver architecture by fibrous bands around regenerative nodules 2/2 persistent liver cell necrosis
Secondary or Obstructive Biliary Cirrhosis
Pathogenesis
+ Involves death & regeneration of hepatocytes
+Extracellular matrix deposition by activated hepatic stellate cells
+Alterations in hepatic vascular architecture
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Cholangitis)
Chronic cholestatic disease in which intrahepatic bile ducts are destroyed by nonsuppurative inflammation
AUTOIMMUNE
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Cholangitis)
Epidemiology
Sx
E: Northern Europeans
40-60 yo; females»»
Sx: Insidious onset w/ pruritus, fatigue, jaundice, associated autoimmune disorders
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Cholangitis)
Labs
AMA+ (serum antimitochondrial antibodies)
50% ANA+
40% ANCA+
elevation of GGT and/or alkaline phosphatase out of proportion to transaminases
Elevated bilirubin, elevated IgM
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Cholangitis)
Micro
Florid duct lesion –> destructive cholangitis
+Portal-based nodular inflammation composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, macrophages
-Bile duct injury
-Lymphocytic cholangitis –> granulomas variable
Chronic Chole: swollen/rarefied hepatocytes adjacent to portal tracts (chole stasis)
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Cholangitis)
Gross
Cirrhosis is a biliary type w/ irregular nodules (jigsaw puzzle)
Nodular liver
Regenerating nodules
Bile staining in fibrotic planes btw regenerating nodules
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Fibroinflammatory disorder that affects intrahepatic & extrahepatic biliary tree –> biliary stricture & cirrhosis
HLAB8 & DR2
Associated dx: IBD (UC)
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Epidemiology
Etiology
Any age; most common in 2nd decade
Male»_space;»
Autoimmune (ANCA+)
OR
Nonimmune –> no associated antibodies
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Sx
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Pruritus
Jaundice
Diarrhea
Anorexia
WT Loss
Fever
Hepatomegaly
Splenomegaly asymptomatic
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Lab tests
+ Increase serum GGT
+ Increase serum aminotransferase levels
+ Elevated ANCA, ANA
+Unreliable serum alkaline phosphatase activity (difficult to interpret bc of bone growth, normal in up to 50% of children /w PSC)