Liver Pathology Flashcards
Reversible Changes to Hepatocytes (2)
Steatosis: accumulation of fat
Cholestasis: accumulation of bile
Irreversible Damage to Hepatocytes Descriptions
Necrosis: Process (2) and Types (2)
Apoptosis: Process (3) and Morphology
Necrosis:
Response to oxidative stress, death due to ischemia
Cells die via lysis due to swelling from osmosis disruption
Confluent happens around Central V
Bridging connects 2 or more lobules
Apoptosis:
Pyknosis (shrinking), Karyorrhexis (fragmentation) and Apoptotic body formation
Acidophil bodies called Councilman bodies
Liver Scar Formation
Principal Cell Description and Pathogenesis (3)
Myofibroblastic hepatic stellate cells
Stellate cells release PDGFR-beta
Kupffer cells release TGF-beta, MMPR2, TIMP1/2
Fibrous septa formed where parenchyma is lost
Tests for Hepatocytes Integrity Tests (3) and Synthetic Functioning Tests (3)
ALT
AST
LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase)
Serum albumin
Coagulation factors
Serum ammonia
Tests for Biliary System Excretory Function (3) and Canaliculi Damage (2)
Serum bilirubin
Urine bilirubin
Serum bile acids
Serum ALP
Serum GGT
Acute Liver Failure
Timeline, Causes (8), Clinical Features (6), Labs (3)
Failure happens within 26 weeks of initial injury
Massive hepatic necrosis from: Acetaminophen/Hep A/Autoimmune Hepatitis Hep B Hep C Hep D Hep E/Esoteric (WIlson's, Budd Chiari)
N/V and jaundice followed by: Encephalopathy (Asterixis)** Coagulopathy** Portal HTN Hepatorenal Syndrome
Elevated conjugated bilirubin
Elevated ALT/AST
Elevated IgM
Chronic Liver Failure
Causes (4), Symptoms/Signs (7) and Association
Alcoholic liver disease
Hep B
Hep C
Nonalcoholic liver disease
Spider Telangiectasias Palmar erythema Hypogonadism Gynecomastia Pruritis Dupuytren's Contracture Asterixis and Coagulopathies
Often associated with Cirrhosis
Liver Cirrhosis
Description, Child Pugh Classifications (3), Sequelae (6)
Diffuse transformation of liver into regenerative parenchymal nodules surrounded by fibrous bands
Class A: Well compensated
Class B: Partially compensated, with varices
Class C: Decompensated
Chronic liver failure Intrahepatic Portal HTN (most common cause) Ascites Splenomegaly Esophageal Varices Encephalopathy
Hep A Virus Clinical Features (4), Transmission, Diagnosis (2)
Benign process that doesn’t produce chronic hepatitis
Smoking aversion
Elevated ALT/AST
Elevated Bilirubin/ALP (cholestasis)
Fecal-oral transmission
anti-HAV IgM if active infection
anti-HAV IgG shows immunity
Hep B Virus Clinical Features (3) Disease Associations (2) Transmission (3), Diagnosis (5), Morphology
Smoking Aversion
Elevated ALT/AST
Can progress to chronic
Polyarteritis nodosa
Risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma if chronic
Parenteral, sexual or perinatal transmission
HBsAg seen in infected people
HBsAb seen in immunized or prior infected
HBcAb IgM if Acute infection
HBcAb IgG if Chronic infection
HBeAg shows infectivity (actively replicating)
Ground glass hepatocytes with HBsAg
(diagnostic for chronic HBV)
*HBcAb IgM is the only (+) lab finding during the window period
Hep C Virus Clinical Features (5) Disease Associations (3) Transmission, Diagnosis (2), Morphology (2)
Generally asymptomatic but persistent infection
Fluctuating levels of AST/ALT
Decreased serum cholesterol
Mixed Cryoglobulinemia
Most progress to chronic and show cirrhosis
Metabolic syndrome
Coinfection with HIV
Risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma
Blood transmission (IVDU, Intranasal DU, Fighters)
HCV RNA PCR during active
anti-HCV Ab if immune
Lymphoid aggregates or lymphoid follicles
Scattered steatosis
Hepatitis D Virus Clinical Features (4), Transmission, Diagnosis (2)
Seen either as a coinfection or superinfection of Hep B
Superinfections more likely to progress to chronic
Higher rate of acute liver failure if IVDU
Hep B vaccine also prevents Hep D
Parenteral transmission
Serum HDV IgM/IgG**
Serum HDV RNA
Hepatitis E Virus Clinical Features (3), Transmission, Diagnosis (2)
Seen in immunocompromised patients
Only progresses to chronic if treated with Tacrolimus
Causes fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women
Fecal-oral transmission (via pigs)
anti-HEV IgG/IgM
PCR for HEV RNA
Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 1 vs Type 2
Population and Antibody
Type 1
Adults
anti-Smooth Muscle Abs
Type 2
Kids and Teenagers
anti-LKM1 Abs
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Morphology (3), Clinical Features (4) and Treatment
Mononuclear infiltrate of plasma cells
Hepatocyte rosettes in inflammatory regions
Eventual cirrhosis with little inflammatory activity
HLA DRB1 association
Female predominance
Acute fulminant hepatitis
Hepatic encephalopathy
Glucocorticoids
Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatitis
Pathogenesis (2) Morphology and Clinical Features (2)
**Most common heptotoxin in acute liver failure
Toxic metabolite from CYTP450 in Zone 3 acinar cells
Causes massive hepatocellular necrosis
Rumack Matthew Nomogram for severity of toxicity
N-acetylcysteine used as antidote
Toxin-Induced Hepatitis Morphology
Anabolic Steroids and Aspirin
Steroids:
Bland hepatocellular cholestasis without inflammation
Aspirin: Microvascular steatosis (diffuse small droplet fat)
Agents that Cause Hepatic Neoplasia
Adenoma (2), Carcinoma (2), Cholangiocarcinoma (1) and Angiosarcoma (3)
Hepatocellular Adenoma:
Oral contraceptives, Anabolic steroids
Hepatocellular carcinoma:
Alcohol, Thorotrast
Cholangiocarcinoma:
Thorotrast
Angiosarcoma:
Thorotrast, Vinyl chloride, Arsenic