Pathology of the liver Flashcards
What is the relevance of doing a liver biopsy?
establish primary diagnosis
- provide additional info in cases where a primary diagnosis has already been established by other investigations
What does it mean by sampling variability of liver biopsies?
average needle biopsy samples a tiny fraction of the whole liver
however lesions affecting liver diffusely can still be reliably assessed
this could be an issue if the disease had uneven distribution (e.g. fibrosis in chronic cholestatic disease)
problems can occur with inversely proportional to the length and diameter of the biopsy specimen
Why are liver biopsies so useful?
most common patterns of liver damage have more than one potential cause
therefore final interpretation depends on clinics-pathological correlation
What are the different zones of the liver?
Zone 1: periportal
Zone 2: mid-zonal
Zone 3: perivenular or centrilobular = furthest away from portal blood supply, high conc of p450 enzymes
What are the different causative agents of viral hepatitis?
A-G
What is the causative agent, incubation period and route of transmission for hepatitis A?
RNA virus (picornavirus) 27nm diameter
15-40 days
faecal-oral route
What is the causative agent, incubation period and route of transmission for hepatitis B?
DNA virus (hepadnavirus) 42nm diameter 4-26 weeks - mainly blood/bloody products - other body secretions - vertical tranmission (mother to baby)
What is the causative agent, incubation period and route of transmission for hepatitis C?
RNA virus (flavivirus) 30-40nm diameter 2-26 weeks - mainly blood / blood products - other body fluids - sporadic infection
What are the outcomes for the following things in terms of hepatitis A infection?
- asymptomatic carrier
- acute hepatitis
- fulminant hepatitis
- chronic hepatitis
- cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- asymptomatic carrier = no
- acute hepatitis = Yes
- fulminant hepatitis = very rare
- chronic hepatitis = no
- cirrhosis = no
- hepatocellular carcinoma = no
What are the outcomes for the following things in terms of hepatitis B infection?
- asymptomatic carrier
- acute hepatitis
- fulminant hepatitis
- chronic hepatitis
- cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- asymptomatic carrier = yes
- acute hepatitis = yes
- fulminant hepatitis = rare
- chronic hepatitis yes (5-10%)
- cirrhosis = yes
- hepatocellular carcinoma = yes
What are the outcomes for the following things in terms of hepatitis C infection?
- asymptomatic carrier
- acute hepatitis
- fulminant hepatitis
- chronic hepatitis
- cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- asymptomatic carrier = yes
- acute hepatitis = yes
- fulminant hepatitis = very rare
- chronic hepatitis = yes >70%
- cirrhosis = yes
- hepatocellular carcinoma = yes
What histopathological features are common in acute hepatitis?
spotty inflammation and lobular disarray
acidophil body
in severe cases = panacinar necrosis
What are the features of hepatitis D?
defective RNA virus
can only be replicated when encapsulated by hep B surface antigens
increases severity of HBV
What are the features of hepatitis E?
RNA virus - 32-34 diameter transmitted by water-borne route acute self-limiting illness high mortality in pregnant women can cause chronic liver disease in immunocompromised pts
What are the features of hepatitis F?
no definite viral agent found yet
What are the features of hepatitis G?
RNA virus (flavivirus)
transmitted via blood
associated with acute and chronic hepatitis
BUT pathogenetic role in liver disease uncertain
What is the definition of chronic hepatitis?
inflammation of the liver continuing without improvement for at least 6 months
HOWEVER
- most chronic liver disease has an inflammatory component that persists for >6 months
therefore term is restricted to number of diseases
What are the causes of chronic hepatitis?
viral - hep B, C, D
autoimmune (types 1-3)
Biliary - primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis
metabolic - alpha-1 -antitrypsin deficiency, wilson’s disease
fatty liver disease - alcoholic or non-alcoholic
drugs - methyldopa, isoniazid, nitrofurantoin
unknown