Liver pathology

Question 1

What are the 3 zones of the liver?

Answer 1

1) Periportal
2) Mid-zonal
3) Perivenular or centrilobular

Question 2

What type of viruses are hepatitis A, B, and C?

Answer 2

Hep A –> +ve ss RNA virus (Picornavirus)

Hep B –> ds DNA virus (Hepadnavirus)

Hep C –> +ve ss RNA virus (Flavivirus)

Question 3

What is the route of transmission for hepatitis A, B, and C?

Answer 3

Hep A –> Faecal-oral

Hep B–> Mother to baby, blood/blood products, other body secretions

Hep C –> Blood/ blood products and other body fluids

Question 4

What are some causes of chronic hepatitis?

Answer 4

1) Viral (Hep B, C, and D)
2) Autoimmune
3) Biliary
4) Metabolic (Alpha -1- antitrypsin deficiency or Wilson’s disease)
5) Fatty liver disease (alcoholic or not)
6) Drugs (methyldopa, isoniazid, nitrofurantoin)

Question 5

What is interface hepatitis?

Answer 5

Also known as piecemeal necrosis.

A process of inflammation and erosion of the hepatic parenchyma at its junction with portal tracts or fibrous septa (connective tissue)

Question 6

What histological changes represent hepatocellular injury?

Answer 6

1) Fatty change
2) Ballooning
3) Mallory-Denk bodies
4) Apoptosis/necrosis

Question 7

What autoimmune conditions damage the liver?

Answer 7

1) Primary Biliary Cholangitis (previously primary biliary cirrhosis)
2) Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
3) “Overlap Syndromes” (PBC/PSC and autoimmune hepatitis)