liver disease Flashcards
acute vs chronic liver injury
acute injury can lead to liver failure, resolution or chronic injury. Chronic injury can lead to cirrhosis then liver failure, cirrhosis then resolution, or directly to resolution
signs of liver failure
jaundice, icterous, acites (hypoalbuminemia), spyder angiometa, palmar erythema, gynecomastia, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, and renal failure
What is Cirrhosis
scarred liver, end point to many chronic liver diseases. Result of chronic recurring death of hepatocytes, deposition of extracellular matrix, and architectural and vascular reorganization. Can be compensated (functional) or decompensated (failing functions)
Cirrhosis histology
diffuse fibrous septation that divides the liver parenchyma into nodules
signs of liver cirrhosis
portal hypertension due to vascular reorganization in liver and increased sinusoidal pressure. Ascites, hemorrhoids, splenomegaly, esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy
Causes of jaundice and cholestasis
excessive extrahepatic bilirubin production, reduced hepatocyte uptake, impaired conjugation, decreased hepatocellular excretion and impaired bile flow
common causes of chronic liver disease in US adults
viral hepatitis C > alcoholic liver dz > non-alcohol fatty liver disease > viral hepatitis B
What is hepatitis
•Inflammatory injury and death of hepatocytes resulting from steatohepatitis or viral causes
Hepatitis histology
swelling/degeneration of hepatocytes, apoptosis/lobular cells with a clear interface separating apoptotic and non-apoptotic cells, bridging necrosis, coagulative necrosis,
Types of inflammation in hepatitis
Lymphocytes – many hepatitides; common in viral. Neutrophils – common in steatohepatitis (fatty liver). Eosinophils – common in drug injury. Plasma cells – common in autoimmune hepatitis
•Be able to compare and contrast acute and chronic hepatitis time course
acute: New onset (< 6 months) of symptomatic disease and laboratory evidence of hepatocyte injury. Chronic: hepatocyte injury and inflammation >6 months.
•Be able to compare and contrast acute and chronic hepatitis time causes
acute: Common causes include acute viral hepatitis and drug injury. Chronic: Caused by chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and drug injury
•Be able to compare and contrast acute and chronic hepatitis microscopic findings
acute: Micrscopic findings include lobular disarray, marked inflammation throughout, widespread hepatocyte injury and necrotic hepatocytes, no fibrosis. Chronic: Microscopic findings include less prominent inflammation and injury (lymphoid aggregates), preponderance of portal tract-based inflammation, fibrosis
Cytoplasmic accumulations in liver injury
Fat – Steatosis. Bile (yellow inclusions) – Cholestasis. Iron – Hemosiderosis/ genetic hemochromatosis. Copper – Wilson Disease / chronic cholestasis. Viral particles (ground glass) – Viral hepatitis
Regeneration and fibrosis cycle in liver injury
Chronic injury and regeneration > activated stellate cells deposit collagen > architectural and vascular reorganization > cirrhosis
How is disease progression tracked in chronic hepatitis
liver biopsies: grade indicates amount of inflammation and injury. Stage indicates amount of fibrous tissue deposition
Stages of liver fibrosis
no fibrosis (stage 0) > portal fibrosis (stage 1) > periportal fibrosis (stage 2) > bridging fibrosis (stage 3) > cirrhosis (stage 4)
grades of liver inflammation and injury
grade 1: focal inflammation, no necrosis. Grade 2: focal necrosis with mild inflammation. Grade 3: confluent necrosis without bridging and moderate inflammation. Grade 4: bridging necrosis with severe inflammation
Hepatitis A transmission, frequency of chronic liver dz, diagnosis
fecal oral contaminated food or water, NEVER causes chronic liver dz only causes acute hepatitis, detection of serum IgM Abs
Hepatitis B type of virus, transmission, frequency of chronic liver dz, diagnosis
Partially dsDNA (only hepatic virus that can integrate into host genome), parenteral, sexual contact or perinatal. 10% develop chronic liver dz. Diagnosed with HBsAg or Ab to HBcAg
Hepatitis C transmission, frequency of chronic liver dz, diagnosis
Parenteral (blood and body fluids), intranasal cocaine use is risk factor. 80% develop chronic liver dz. PCR for HCV RNA, or 3rd generation ELISA for Ab detection
Hepatitis D diagnosis and transmission
Detection of IgM and IgG Abs. HDV RNA serum. HDAg in liver. IV drug use most common mode
Hepatitis E transmission, frequency of chronic liver dz, diagnosis
Fecal-oral. Never causes chronic liver dz, only causes acute hepatitis. PCR for HEV RNA, detection of serum IgM and IgG Abs