Chapter 13 The Hepatobiliary System
2 What are the most common morphologic signs of liver injury?
Hepatocytes are the main target of liver injury. Morphologically, liver injury can manifest in several forms:



3 How does the liver respond to injury?



4 How is liver function evaluated clinically?
Liver function is evaluated with laboratory tests colloquially known as liver function tests (LFTs). These tests were designed to monitor the following:
5 Discuss the necroinflammatory indices, that is, the laboratory tests used to monitor the integrity of liver cells
The most widely used tests are those measuring the blood concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In massive liver necrosis (e.g., after acetaminophen intoxication), blood levels of AST and ALT increase 50 times over the normal values. In viral hepatitis, levels of AST and ALT are 4 to 6 times above the normal values.
6 Which tests are used to measure hepatic secretory function?

7 Discuss the tests used to measure biliary excretion



8 Which tests are used for estimating liver catabolic functions?
Catabolic functions of the liver include the detoxification of many metabolites. However, it is impractical to measure these functions and, in practice, the only function that is monitored is the capacity of the liver to remove ammonia. Elevation of blood ammonia is a good marker of severe liver injury.
JAUNDICE
9 Define jaundice
Jaundice, or icterus, is a yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes due to increased levels of bilirubin in circulation. Normally, blood contains 0.5 to 1.2 mg/dL of bilirubin. Jaundice becomes apparent when the blood levels of bilirubin reach the concentration of 2.5 to 3.0 mg/dL.
10 Describe how bilirubin is formed
Bilirubin is produced at a constant rate of approximately 4 mg/kg body weight per day. Accordingly, 200 to 300 mg of bilirubin is produced daily in the body. Bilirubin stems from the following:

11 How is bilirubin processed?
The major steps in the processing and excretion of bilirubin derived from senescent red blood cells are as follows:





12 Why is it important to fractionate bilirubin in the serum?
Fractionation of bilirubin is used for elucidating the causes and pathogenesis of jaundice. Pathologists can fractionate total serum bilirubin and determine the ratio of unconjugated bilirubin, also known as indirect bilirubin, to conjugated bilirubin (CB), also known as direct bilirubin. Normally, blood contains less than 1.2 mg/dL (20 μmol/L) of bilirubin, most of it in an unconjugated form (95%).
According to laboratory analysis, hyperbilirubinemia can be classified as follows:
13 Describe the main forms of jaundice
Three pathogenetic forms of jaundice are recognized clinically (Fig. 13-1):

Figure 13-1 Jaundice. Three pathogenetic forms of jaundice are recognized: prehepatic jaundice resulting from hemolysis, hepatic jaundice resulting from liver cell injury, and posthepatic jaundice resulting from the obstruction of major extrahepatic biliary ducts.
(Modified from James EC, Corry RJ, Perry JF, Jr: Principles of Basic Surgical Practice. Philadelphia, Hanley & Belfus, 1987, p. 271.)
14 Is bilirubin present in urine in all forms of jaundice?
Unconjugated bilirubin, typically found in hemolytic jaundice, circulates bound to albumin. This bilirubin–albumin complex does not pass into the urine. On the other hand, conjugated bilirubin typically found in the blood of patients suffering from hepatocellular or obstructive jaundice is water soluble and will readily pass into urine.
15 What are the main causes of predominantly unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
Unconjugated bilirubinemia is most often caused by hemolysis. The most important clinical conditions in this category are as follows:



16 Can unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia be caused by liver disease?
Yes. This typically occurs because of impaired uptake of bilirubin or impaired conjugation of bilirubin taken up by the liver cells.
Impaired uptake by damaged hepatocytes is seen in viral hepatitis or drug-induced liver injury (e.g., probenecid-related jaundice).
Defect of conjugation of bilirubin is the cause of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in some genetic disorders, such as Crigler–Najjar syndrome or Gilbert syndrome.
17 What is the cause of jaundice in genetic diseases characterized by unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
Crigler–Najjar syndrome, which occurs in two forms (severe, fatal Type I and a milder Type II), and Gilbert syndrome are caused by defective function of UGT and present with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
18 Name the most common genetic form of jaundice
Gilbert’s syndrome is the most common form of hereditary jaundice, affecting approximately 5% of the population at large. This autosomal dominant disorder has been linked to a mutation of the gene encoding UGT1A1. This mutation is associated with reduced enzymatic activity of UGT1A1, resulting in fluctuating hyperbilirubinemia.
19 How does Gilbert syndrome present clinically?
Gilbert syndrome presents as mild jaundice unrelated to any other symptoms. It is typically diagnosed during the investigation of jaundice that has appeared in the course of some common disease (e.g., flu) that usually does not affect the liver. Jaundice may also be precipitated by minor stress (e.g., medical school examinations), exercise, or fasting. Jaundice is not accompanied by any other symptoms and subsides on its own. Patients should be assured that the disease is not progressive and that no treatment is required.
20 Could genetic diseases present as benign isolated conjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
Rare genetic disease related to abnormal processing and biliary excretion of bilirubin from liver cells may cause conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The most important diseases in this category are Dubin–Johnson syndrome, a jaundice caused by the mutation of the multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) and Rotor syndrome, a disease of unknown genetics.
21 List common causes of mixed hyperbilirubinemia
Mixed hyperbilirubinemia is a sign of “hepatic jaundice” and it is typically seen in:
22 What is the difference between intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary obstruction?
Intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary obstruction cause elevation of conjugated bilirubin. In both conditions, hyperbilirubinemia is associated with an elevation of alkaline phosphatase in blood. However, because the intrahepatic cholestasis may cause or even result from liver cell or bile ductular injury, it is usually accompanied by additional laboratory abnormalities (e.g., elevation of LFTs), immunologic abnormalities (such as antimitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis), or virologic data (e.g., hepatitis B virus antibodies). Extrahepatic biliary obstruction often presents with progressively worsening jaundice and pale (“acholic”) stools and few other symptoms. Prolonged jaundice of any type is associated with itching.
HEPATIC FAILURE
26 Compare acute and chronic liver failure
Acute liver failure is a disease of sudden onset that may cause death in a few days or weeks. Typically, it is associated with massive hepatic necrosis following viral infection, adverse drug reaction, or ingestion of toxins. Chronic liver failure develops over a period of years and is typically associated with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is used as a synonym for end-stage chronic liver disease and, as such, it may be caused by a number of preexisting diseases.
28 What are the clinical features of chronic liver failure?

A mnemonic for the consequences of liver failure is jaundice:
29 Define portal hypertension
The portal system drains the venous blood from the gastrointestinal system into the liver. It comprises the portal vein and its tributaries—the splenic vein, the mesenteric veins, and the gastric veins. In normal circumstances, the blood flows through the portal system under low pressure (7 mmHg). Portal hypertension is elevation of the portal venous blood pressure over the normal value of 12 mmHg.
30 What are the main forms of portal hypertension?
Three forms of portal hypertension are recognized depending on the site of obstruction:


32 Where do portal–systemic anastomoses develop in portal hypertension?
Shunting of portal venous blood into the systemic circulation occurs at three anatomic sites:

33 Discuss the pathogenesis of ascites in cirrhosis
The pathogenesis of ascites is not fully understood, but it appears to be a consequence of several disturbances found in patients with cirrhosis (Fig. 13-2):




34 What is the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome?
Hepatorenal syndrome is defined as sudden functional renal failure (i.e., without an underlying kidney disease) in a patient with end-stage liver failure. The exact pathogenesis of this complication of cirrhosis is not known, but all data indicate that the renal failure is caused by hypoperfusion of kidneys. It presents with oliguria and retention of water and sodium. If the patient dies, his or her kidneys can be transplanted into another person and will function normally.
35 Explain the pathogenesis of palmar erythema, gynecomastia, and spider angiomas in patients with cirrhosis
These signs of end-stage liver disease are related to hyperestrinism. Hyperestrinism results from decreased degradation of steroid hormones in the diseased liver. Weak estrogens normally produced in all men are then converted in peripheral fat tissues into more potent estrogens, which in turn act on the breast to produce gynecomastia or on the blood vessels of the skin to induce palmar erythema and spider angiomas.
36 Explain the bleeding tendency commonly found in patients with cirrhosis



Massive uncontrollable bleeding is a major cause of death in patients with cirrhosis.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
37 Discuss the most important infectious diseases affecting the liver


38 What is viral hepatitis?
Although hepatitis may be caused by many viruses, the term viral hepatitis is reserved in clinical practice for infections caused by the hepatotropic viruses. Only six viruses have been definitively identified (A–E and G). One of these is a DNA virus (hepatitis B virus [HBV]), one is an incomplete RNA virus (hepatitis virus type D [HDV]), and the remaining four are RNA viruses.
39 Do all hepatitis viruses belong to the same group, and do they share the same structural properties?
Hepatitis viruses do not belong to the same group: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a picornavirus, HBV is a hepadna virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a flavivirus, and hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a calicivirus. Accordingly, immunity against one virus will not protect against other viruses.
40 Is liver biopsy useful for diagnosing acute viral hepatitis?
Liver biopsy is rarely used in the diagnostic workup of a patient suspected of having acute viral hepatitis. The main reasons for the uncommon use of liver biopsy for diagnosing acute viral hepatitis are as follows:


41 Which viral diseases are best diagnosed by liver biopsy?
When a patient develops acute viral hepatitis, serologic tests will usually identify the causative pathogen. However, if the serologic tests for viral hepatitides are negative, liver biopsy may provide insight into the clinical problem. For example, if the disease is caused by herpes virus or CMV, the liver biopsy may disclose intranuclear viral particles. However, because many drugs may produce “virus hepatitis-like changes,” even this approach will not yield absolutely diagnostic results. Accordingly, liver biopsy is used in clinical practice as the last resort for evaluating acute liver diseases. It is useful for estimating the extent of liver injury and is widely used for estimating the extent and degree of chronic hepatitis and for documenting cirrhosis. Liver biopsy is also used for evaluating liver transplant rejection.

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