Liver Pathology Flashcards
Normal liver size?
1400g-1600g
Functional unit
acini
Have three zones
1, 2 and 3
Based around terminal hepatic vein(central vein)
anatomical component
Hepatic Lobule
Porta Hepatis
Main entry point into the liver.
A fissure where the Bile Duct, Hepatic portal vein and Proper hepatic artery enter/exit
Purpose of zones? Other names for zones are?
Pathologists can describe changes specific to each zone, which helps clinicians to identify/ diagnose the disease
1 = periportal
2 = mid-zonal
3 = centrilobular
What are the Four general features of Hepatic disease
1: the patterns of hepatic injury
2: hepatic failure
3: cirrhosis (distinct to liver)
4: portal hypertension
1 Patterns of hepatic injury are?
5 general responses (limited # of responses)
1) Degeneration and intracellular accumulation (fat-steatosis, or bilirubin-cholestasis)
2) Necrosis and apoptosis (consequence of toxins/drugs)
3) Inflammation (hepatitis)
(viral, infection, autoimmune issues)
4) Regeneration
5) Fibrosis (leads to cirrhosis > portal hypertension)
2 Hepatic Failure
relatively unncommon
- Sudden and massive destruction OR endpoint of chronic damage
- Only seen when loss ~80-90%
- Decompensation associated with increased demand (infection, GI bleeding, sepsis) triggered by ‘co-morbidity’ so the liver has less ability to compensate and HF will occur at
Clinical Features of Hepatic Failure
Failure of normal function:
- Jaundice (failure to metabolise bilirubin)
- Hypoalbuminaemia (low albumin > peripheral edema)
- Elevated Ammonia (not removed/detox. leads to neurological dysfunction)
- Bleeding (decreased coagulation factors)
Paracetamol in excessive dosage is? What would you see with this?
‘Hepatotoxic’
- Hepatocellular necrosis (loss of normal hepatocyte structure) near hepatic /central vein
- Normal anatomy/tissue around portal triad
Cirrhosis
a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue. It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.
Physical features of Cirrhosis
Bridging Fibrous Septae: link portal tracts
Parenchymal Nodules: Proliferating hepatocytes encircled by fibrosis
- micronodules less then 3mm
- macronodules upto a few cm
Disruption of entire architecture
- vascular architecture > shunts that avoid HPV and HA blood bypasses
- progressive fibrosis
What mediates Cirrhosis
A number of inflammatory Cytokines (particularly Kupffer cells, also know as alveolar macrophages in lungs).
Activated Kupffer cell releases inflamm. CK release > fibrosis , changes in BVs
These all cause damage to normal hepatocytes (necrosis and apoptosis)
and initiate an inflammatory response (from fibrosis)
FIBROSIS > CIRRHOSIS
Complications of Cirrhosis
1) Impairment of Normal Hepatic Function- synthetic/detoxification fuunction
2) Impairment of Normal blood pressures/flow in the portal vein (those with chronic liver disease > portal hypertension)
What is portal hypertension?
Increased resistance to portal blood flow, due to increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system leading to eventual reversal of blood flow
Causes of Portal Hypertension
Prehepatic: Obstructive Thrombosis (block in PV)
Post Hepatic : Severe right sided heart failure (rised r.side pressure)
Intrahepatic: Cirrhosis (90% cases)
Consequences of Portal hypertension
1) Porto-systemic Shunts: lead to
- Congestive Splenomegaly (big spleen)
- Eosophageal varices (loss of blood)
- Varices around umbilicus
And due to failure of liver to do normal function
2) Ascites
3) Hepatic encephalopathy (neurodegeneration)