Ischemic hepatitis
Encyclopedia
Ischemic hepatitis is a condition of decreased blood supply to the liver
resulting in injury to liver cells (hepatocyte
s), which occurs in a diffuse fashion. The decreased blood flow (perfusion
) to the liver is usually due to shock or low blood pressure. However, local causes involving the hepatic artery
that supplies oxygen to the liver, such as sickle cell crisis and thrombosis of the hepatic artery, can also cause ischemic hepatitis. Patients with ischemic hepatitis are usually very ill.
enzymes, AST and ALT, which may exceed 1000 U/L. Normal limits for ALT is usually 63 U/L, depending on the lab. These increased lab values are due to the injured hepatocytes leaking out these enzymes into the blood stream.
People who develop ischemic hepatitis may have pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, but they usually feel more unwell because of the serious reason that they developed the ischemia, than due to the ischemic hepatitis itself. Jaundice
can occur, but is rare and transient, as is actual loss of function of the liver.
or nutmeg
liver, which is a backflow condition due to poor drainage of the liver, usually due to heart failure. As a result, the two entities can co-exist.
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
resulting in injury to liver cells (hepatocyte
Hepatocyte
A hepatocyte is a cell of the main tissue of the liver. Hepatocytes make up 70-80% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass.These cells are involved in:* Protein synthesis* Protein storage* Transformation of carbohydrates...
s), which occurs in a diffuse fashion. The decreased blood flow (perfusion
Perfusion
In physiology, perfusion is the process of nutritive delivery of arterial blood to a capillary bed in the biological tissue. The word is derived from the French verb "perfuser" meaning to "pour over or through."...
) to the liver is usually due to shock or low blood pressure. However, local causes involving the hepatic artery
Hepatic artery
Hepatic artery can refer to:* Common hepatic artery * Hepatic artery proper...
that supplies oxygen to the liver, such as sickle cell crisis and thrombosis of the hepatic artery, can also cause ischemic hepatitis. Patients with ischemic hepatitis are usually very ill.
Diagnosis and presentation
Blood testing usually shows high levels of the liver transaminaseLiver function tests
Liver function tests , are groups of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give information about the state of a patient's liver. The parameters measured include PT/INR, aPTT, albumin, billirubin and others...
enzymes, AST and ALT, which may exceed 1000 U/L. Normal limits for ALT is usually 63 U/L, depending on the lab. These increased lab values are due to the injured hepatocytes leaking out these enzymes into the blood stream.
People who develop ischemic hepatitis may have pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, but they usually feel more unwell because of the serious reason that they developed the ischemia, than due to the ischemic hepatitis itself. Jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
can occur, but is rare and transient, as is actual loss of function of the liver.
Related conditions
Ischemic hepatitis is related to another condition called congestive hepatopathyNutmeg liver
In hepatology, congestive hepatopathy, also known as nutmeg liver and chronic passive congestion of the liver, is liver dysfunction due to venous congestion, usually cardiac dysfunction, i.e...
or nutmeg
Nutmeg
The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
liver, which is a backflow condition due to poor drainage of the liver, usually due to heart failure. As a result, the two entities can co-exist.