Clinical, Biochemical, and Histopathology Features of Patients With Glycogenic Hepatopathy

Characteristics, clinical laboratory, histopathology, and outcomes of glycogenic hepatopathy in children

Introduction

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is a rare complication of type I diabetes mellitus (DM1), resulting in abnormal deposition of glycogen in the liver due to poor glycemic control. Clinical characteristics and natural history of GH are not completely understood in children. In this study, we investigated clinical, biochemical, histologic parameters and outcomes in children with GH.

Method

This was a retrospective review of patients less than 18 years old diagnosed with GH and DM. GH was confirmed on liver biopsy. Medical records were reviewed for clinical presentation, laboratory tests, and clinical outcomes. Liver biopsy findings were reviewed by a pediatric pathologist (I. A. G.).

Results

Nine children were diagnosed with GH and type 1 DM. The median age at diagnosis of GH was 16 (IQR 14.5-17) years. Duration of diagnosis of DM until GH diagnosis was 7 (IQR 5-11) years. The median frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis before GH diagnosis was three times (IQR 2-5.25). Peak Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) ranged from 115 to 797, and 83-389 units/L, respectively. Only two children had mild fibrosis. Seven of nine had steatosis without steatohepatitis. There was no correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or other laboratory tests and liver fibrosis on biopsy. HbA1c was 11.2 (IQR 10.2-12.8) at GH diagnosis and 9.8 (IQR 9.5-10.8) with normalization of liver enzymes.

Conclusion

GH appears to be related to poor glycemic control in teenagers with long-term diabetes. GH presents with high to very high aminotransferase especially AST > ALT and resolves with modestly improved glycemic control. Diffuse hepatocyte swelling, steatosis, minimal fibrosis without hepatocyte ballooning or lobular inflammation are most common histological features.

The Liver and Glycogen: In Sickness and in Health

The liver is a major store of glycogen and is essential in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis. In healthy individuals, glycogen synthesis and breakdown in the liver are tightly regulated. Abnormal glycogen metabolism results in prominent pathological changes in the liver, often manifesting as hepatic glycogenosis or glycogen inclusions. This can occur in genetic glycogen storage disease or acquired conditions with insulin dysregulation such as diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or medication effects. Some primary hepatic tumors such as clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma also demonstrate excessive glycogen accumulation. This review provides an overview of the pathological manifestations and molecular mechanisms of liver diseases associated with abnormal glycogen accumulation.

Glycogenic hepatopathy is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus in only a minority of cases in a contemporary adult population

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the clinical-pathological profiles of patients with glycogenic hepatopathy in a contemporary cohort of patients at an adult acute care hospital.

METHODS

Liver biopsies with glycogenic hepatopathy were retrieved from the departmental surgical pathology database, the histological findings were studied, and the clinical findings were reviewed.

RESULTS

Five cases of glycogenic hepatopathy were found, including cases associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 1), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 1), corticosteroids (n = 2), and anorexia (n = 2, including the patient with type 1 diabetes). AST and ALT were normal to mildly elevated (13-115 U/L and 7-126 U/L, respectively). Trace ascites was present in two patients. Hepatomegaly was only present in the patient with type 1 diabetes at the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Four of five cases were associated with etiologies other than type 1 diabetes, which is widely reported as the most common etiology of glycogenic hepatopathy. This study suggests that etiologies currently only rarely recognized may actually be more common causes of glycogenic hepatopathy than type 1 diabetes in a contemporary adult population. It is important not only to recognize that these rarely reported causes of glycogenic hepatopathy may be underrecognized, but that the clinical presentation may also be mild.

A Case Report about Glycogenic Hepatopathy

Introduction

Glycogenic hepatopathy is a rare complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus that presents with hepatomegaly and transient elevation in serum aminotransferase enzymes. The underlying pathophysiology involves excessive accumulation of intrahepatic glycogen. Glycogenic hepatopathy is usually underdiagnosed because it is difficult to differentiate from other entities, such as the nonalcoholic fatty liver. The gold standard for diagnosis is liver biopsy. Glycogenic hepatopathy can be reversed by the achievement of adequate glycemic control. Case description. A 19-year-old female patient with a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus that resulted in several episodes of diabetes ketoacidosis requiring hospital admissions. The patient presented to the emergency room with generalized weakness and fatigue found to have diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood tests revealed abnormal liver function with aspartate aminotransferase 1129 U/L (13–37 U/L), alanine aminotransferase 766 U/L (13–56 U/L), alkaline phosphatase 216 U/L (45–117 U/L), total bilirubin 1.0 mg/dL (0.2–1.3 mg/dL), albumin 3.8 g/dL (3.4–5.0 g/dL), partial thromboplastin time < 20 s (23–31 s), prothrombin time 11.8 s (9.5–11.5 s), and international normalized ratio 1.1. Acute hepatitis serologies were negative. Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus were ruled out. Extensive autoimmune hepatitis tests were negative. Primary biliary cirrhosis was also ruled out. A liver biopsy was obtained, which was diagnostic of glycogenic hepatopathy.

Conclusion

Glycogenic hepatopathy must be suspected in patients with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus who present with elevated liver enzymes and hepatomegaly. Treating this rare condition requires a timely diagnosis with liver biopsy and strict glycemic control.

Hepatic Glycogenosis: An Underdiagnosed Entity?

Hepatic glycogenosis (HG) is a rare complication of long-standing poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), which is often misdiagnosed as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the existence of several reports in the literature, it still is underrecognized, even among gastroenterologists. Differential diagnosis between these entities is essential since they have different prognoses.

We report a case of an 18-year-old female, with a medical history of poorly controlled T1DM, admitted to an intensive care unit with severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Upon admission, aminotransferases were significantly elevated; bilirubin and coagulation tests were normal. Despite adequate DKA treatment, she had persistently elevated aminotransferases and hyperlactacidemia. Imaging studies showed hepatomegaly and bright liver parenchyma. Extensive laboratory workup was negative for other causes of liver disease. So, a liver biopsy was performed, which was consistent with the diagnosis of HG. Under strict metabolic control, she had progressive improvement, achieving biochemical normalization within 6 months.

This case highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of this condition due to non-negligible differences between HG and NAFLD, with the latter progressing to fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. On the opposite, HG is considered a benign condition, associated with an excellent prognosis that can be reversible after adequate metabolic control. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard method for HG diagnosis since it can distinguish it from NAFLD.

Hepatopathy Associated With Type 1 Diabetes: Distinguishing Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease From Glycogenic Hepatopathy

Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells results in the permanent loss of insulin production in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The daily necessity to inject exogenous insulin to treat hyperglycemia leads to a relative portal vein insulin deficiency and potentiates hypoglycemia which can induce weight gain, while daily fluctuations of blood sugar levels affect the hepatic glycogen storage and overall metabolic control. These, among others, fundamental characteristics of T1D are associated with the development of two distinct, but in part clinically similar hepatopathies, namely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and glycogen hepatopathy (GlyH). Recent studies suggest that NAFLD may be increasingly common in T1D because more people with T1D present with overweight and/or obesity, linked to the metabolic syndrome. GlyH is a rare but underdiagnosed complication hallmarked by extremely brittle metabolic control in, often young, individuals with T1D. Both hepatopathies share clinical similarities, troubling both diagnosis and differentiation. Since NAFLD is increasingly associated with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, whereas GlyH is considered self-limiting, awareness and differentiation between both condition is important in clinical care. The exact pathogenesis of both hepatopathies remains obscure, hence licensed pharmaceutical therapy is lacking and general awareness amongst physicians is low. This article aims to review the factors potentially contributing to fatty liver disease or glycogen storage disruption in T1D. It ends with a proposal for clinicians to approach patients with T1D and potential hepatopathy.

Acute Hepatitis due to Hepatic Glycogenosis After Insulin Overdose and Oral Glucose Administration in an Adolescent

Background

Hepatic glycogenosis (HG) has been reported after intravenous (IV) dextrose administration to treat insulin overdose. We describe a case of HG in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) due to insulin overdose treated with oral glucose administration.

Case Presentation

An adolescent boy with T1DM on a basal bolus insulin regimen presented with abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and hypoglycemia of a few hours. His glucose was 71 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase (AST) 119 U/L, and alanine transaminase (ALT) 65 U/L. Hypoglycemia was treated with juice, and 12 hours later AST and ALT were 979 U/L and 700 U/L, respectively. Workup for infectious, autoimmune, metabolic, and toxic causes of hepatitis was negative. The transaminases improved by the next day and normalized within 3 weeks. Two weeks after discharge the patient returned with hypoglycemia, nausea, and right-sided abdominal pain of 13 hours. Hypoglycemia persisted despite multiple courses of glucose tablets and juice. Laboratory studies showed glucose of 58 mg/dL, AST of 776 U/L, ALT of 496 U/L, negative toxicology studies, and normal abdominal ultrasound. His serum insulin level was 249.7 mU/L and, C-peptide was less than 0.1 ng/mL, consistent with insulin overdose. He received IV fluids with dextrose, and insulin was held. Transaminases improved by the following day. Repeat serum insulin while on home regimen was normal.

Conclusion

Along with other diagnoses, HG should be considered in patients treated with insulin who present with hypoglycemia and acute hepatitis. HG can occur in cases of insulin overdose treated with repeated oral glucose administration.

Liver chemistries in glycogenic hepatopathy associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and pooled analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) in type 1 diabetes-mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by hepatomegaly and perturbations of liver chemistries (LC) that have not been well studied. Furthermore, misdiagnosis with other hepatic complications of T1DM, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has been described. We perform a systematic review of biopsy-proven GH reports in T1DM patients to identify LC patterns.

METHODS

A systematic review identified reports of biopsy-proven GH in patients with T1DM. We excluded GH with other liver diseases, Mauriac syndrome, or GH without T1DM. Two reviewers screened and extracted studies and assessed their methodological quality. LC elevation magnitude, AST-to-ALT ratio, R-ratio to designate hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of hepatic injury, and evolution of transaminases after glycemic control were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 192 patients were included, with median age of 20 years, 73% adults, 66% females, median duration of T1DM before diagnosis 10 years, median adult body mass index 21 kg/m² , median HbA1c 12%, at least one episode of diabetic ketoacidosis 70%, and hepatomegaly 92%. ALT and AST showed moderate-to-severe elevation in 78% and 76%, respectively, AST/ALT >1 in 71% and hepatocellular to mixed pattern of hepatic injury in 81%. Transaminase improvement with glycemic control was the rule, regardless of other factors in multilinear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

GH tends to have AST-predominant elevation with a median of 13 times the upper normal limit and R-ratio >2, which may distinguish it from other etiologies of AST-predominant LC elevation, and in the appropriate clinical context, may obviate invasive tests.

Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Glycogen synthesis and storage are normal hepatocyte functions. However, glycogenosis, defined as excess hepatocyte glycogen visible by routine H&E light microscopy, has not been well characterized in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

Glycogenosis in NAFLD liver biopsies was graded as "none", "focal" (in <50% of hepatocytes), or "diffuse" (in ≥50% of hepatocytes). Clinical and pathological variables associated with glycogenosis were assessed. 2047 liver biopsies were prospectively analysed.

RESULTS

In adults and children, any glycogenosis was present in 54% of cases; diffuse glycogenosis was noted in approximately 1/3 of cases. On multiple logistic regression analysis, adults with glycogenosis tended to be older (P = .003), female (P = .04), have higher serum glucose (P = .01), and use insulin (P = .02). Adults tended to have lower steatosis scores (P = .006) and lower fibrosis stages (P = .005); however, unexpectedly, they also tended to have more hepatocyte injury including ballooning (P = .003). On multiple logistic regression analysis, paediatric patients with glycogenosis were more likely to be Hispanic (P = .03), have lower body weight (P = .002), elevated triglycerides (P = .001), and a higher fasting glucose (P = .007). Paediatric patients with glycogenosis also had less steatosis (P < .001) than those without.

CONCLUSIONS

Glycogenosis is common in adult and paediatric NAFLD, and is associated with clinical features of insulin resistance. Glycogenosis is important to recognize histologically because it may be misinterpreted as ballooning, and when diffuse, confusion with glycogen storage disorders or glycogenic hepatopathy must be avoided. The newly observed dichotomous relationship between glycogenosis and increased liver cell injury but decreased steatosis and fibrosis requires further study.

Mauriac syndrome: A failure of parent or physician

Mauriac syndrome is rare; we share our experience of nine patients who presented at a young age with malnutrition, short stature, abdominal distention and deranged liver function.

Glycogenic Hepatopathy Masquerading as Acute Pancreatitis

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH), defined histologically by hepatocytic glycogen accumulation without fatty change or fibrosis, is a benign reversible condition. It presents clinically as hepatomegaly with elevated liver enzymes in young diabetic (type 1) patients with poor glycemic control. We report a case of a 20-year-old female with a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and prior pancreatitis who presented with sharp epigastric pain and hepatomegaly. She was found to have diabetic ketoacidosis with elevated lipase and amylase. Though at first her symptoms were erroneously attributed to pancreatitis, a liver biopsy showing glycogenated nuclei led to a diagnosis of GH.

Hepatocellular Glycogen Accumulation in the Setting of Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is the accumulation of glycogen in the hepatocytes and represents a rare complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), most commonly type 1 DM. We present a case of a 23-year-old woman with a medical history of poorly controlled type 1 DM and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who presented with progressively worsening right-sided abdominal pain. Diagnostic workup resulted in a liver biopsy with hepatocytes that stained heavily for glycogen with no evidence of fibrosis or steatohepatitis. A diagnosis of glycogenic hepatopathy was made, and an aggressive glucose control regimen was implemented leading to resolution of symptoms and improvement in AST, ALT, and ALP. In addition to presenting this rare case, we offer a review of literature and draw important distinctions between glycogenic hepatopathy and other differential diagnoses with the aim of assisting providers in the diagnostic workup and treatment of glycogenic hepatopathy.

Glycogenic hepatopathy as an unusual etiology of deranged liver function in a patient with type 1 diabetes: A case report

RATIONALE

Deranged liver function is a common finding among patients with diabetes mellitus. We report a case of liver biopsy-proven glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) in a patient with long-standing poorly controlled type 1 diabetes (DM1), presented with recurrent transaminitis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 28-year-old Chinese woman was noted to have deranged liver function with transaminases elevated to more than 15 times the upper limit of normal.

DIAGNOSIS

She had underlying long-standing poorly controlled DM1. Blood tests including hepatitis serology and autoimmune panel were negative. Liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GH, showing an increase in glycogen deposition with intact liver parenchymal architecture, and no inflammation or significant fibrosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Her glycemic control was optimized.

OUTCOMES

Her transaminase levels normalized upon subsequent follow-up with improved glycemic control.

LESSONS

GH is suspected when transaminase flare occurs in patients with poorly controlled DM1, usually with exaggerated hemoglobin A1c levels, especially after drug-induced, viral, autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases are excluded. The gold standard of diagnosis is liver biopsy. When diagnosis of GH is ascertained, the mainstay of treatment is to optimize glycemic control. Typically, the transaminases may become normal within days to months after improvement of glycemic control. Compared to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, GH is associated with favorable prognosis and runs a benign course, making this differentiation clinically important.

Glycogenic hepatopathy as a cause of severe deranged liver enzymes in a young patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is a rare complication of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We present a 19-year-old woman with T1DM and autoimmune thyroiditis who admitted to our department because of abrupt onset intermittent abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant accompanied by laboratory evidence of acute anicteric hepatitis. Physical examination revealed significant hepatomegaly but the common imagining studies were negative. Following exclusion of common causes of acute hepatitis and because of the presence of smooth muscle antibodies in a young female patient with already established two autoimmune diseases, a liver biopsy was performed in order to exclude the potential presence of autoimmune hepatitis. However, liver histology showed typical findings of GH. Intense treatment targeting strict glycemic control resulted in normalisation of liver biochemistry. This case underlines that GH should be considered as a rare cause of acute hepatitis in T1DM patients with poor glycemic control.

An Unusual Presentation of Glycogenic Hepatopathy with Bridging Fibrosis

Glycogenic hepatopathy is a rare and under-recognized complication of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. We report a patient who presented with predominant elevation in alkaline phosphatase and liver biopsy showing bridging fibrosis, which is an unusual presentation of glycogenic hepatopathy. This case emphasizes the fact that glycogenic hepatopathy can also present with a cholestatic pattern of liver abnormality and with liver fibrosis, which warrants further study because severe fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis.

Glycogenic hepatopathy

BACKGROUND

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is a disorder associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, most commonly type 1, expressed as right upper quadrant abdominal pain, hepatomegaly and increased liver enzymes. The diagnosis may be difficult, because laboratory and imaging tests are not pathognomonic. Although GH may be suggested based on clinical presentation and imaging studies, the gold standard for diagnosis is a liver biopsy, showing a significant accumulation of glycogen within the hepatocytes. GH may be diagnosed also after elevated liver enzymes in routine blood tests. GH usually regresses after tight glycemic control. Progression to end-stage liver disease has never been reported. This review aims to increase the awareness to this disease, to suggest a pathway for investigation that may reduce the use of unnecessary tests, especially invasive ones.

DATA SOURCES

A PubMed database search (up to July 1, 2017) was done with the words "glycogenic hepatopathy", "hepatic glycogenosis", "liver glycogenosis" and "diabetes mellitus-associated glycogen storage hepatopathy". Articles in which diabetes mellitus-associated liver glycogen accumulation was described were included in this review.

RESULTS

A total of 47 articles were found, describing 126 patients with GH. Hepatocellular disturbance was more profound than cholestatic disturbance. No synthetic failure was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

GH may be diagnosed conservatively, based on corroborating medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging studies and response to treatment, even without liver biopsy. In case of doubt about the diagnosis or lack of clinical response to treatment, a liver biopsy may be considered. There is no role for noninvasive tests like fibroscan or fibrotest for the diagnosis of GH or for differentiation of this situation from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Glycogenic hepatopathy: A narrative review

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is a rare complication of the poorly controlled diabetes mellitus characterized by the transient liver dysfunction with elevated liver enzymes and associated hepatomegaly caused by the reversible accumulation of excess glycogen in the hepatocytes. It is predominantly seen in patients with longstanding type 1 diabetes mellitus and rarely reported in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although it was first observed in the pediatric population, since then, it has been reported in adolescents and adults with or without ketoacidosis. The association of GH with hyperglycemia in diabetes has not been well established. One of the essential elements in the pathophysiology of development of GH is the wide fluctuation in both glucose and insulin levels. GH and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are clinically indistinguishable, and latter is more prevalent in diabetic patients and can progress to advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. Gradient dual-echo MRI can distinguish GH from NAFLD; however, GH can reliably be diagnosed only by liver biopsy. Adequate glycemic control can result in complete remission of clinical, laboratory and histological abnormalities. There has been a recent report of varying degree of liver fibrosis identified in patients with GH. Future studies are required to understand the biochemical defects underlying GH, noninvasive, rapid diagnostic tests for GH, and to assess the consequence of the fibrosis identified as severe fibrosis may progress to cirrhosis. Awareness of this entity in the medical community including specialists is low. Here we briefly reviewed the English literature on pathogenesis involved, recent progress in the evaluation, differential diagnosis, and management.

Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I axis in type 1 diabetes

The precise mechanisms relating type 1 diabetes (T1D) and poor glycemic control to the axis of growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor- I (IGF-I), and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) remain to be definitively determined. GH resistance with low IGF-I as is frequently seen in patients with T1D is often related to portal hypoinsulization, and lack of upregulation of GH receptors. There are conflicting reports of the effect of a dysregulated GH/IGF-I axis on height in children and adolescents with T1D, as well as on chronic complications. This brief review discusses some of the interactions between the GH/IGF-I axis and T1D pathology, and vice-versa.