Extreme elevation of transaminase levels in acute heart disease-a problem in differential diagnosis?

Hypoxic hepatitis: clinical and hemodynamic study in 142 consecutive cases

The centrilobular liver cell necrosis observed in hypoxic hepatitis is generally attributed to failure of hepatic blood perfusion. Accordingly, this injury of the liver is commonly recognized under the terms "shock liver" or "ischemic hepatitis." During a 10-year period, 142 episodes of hypoxic hepatitis were consecutively identified in the intensive care unit of a general hospital, and the clinical, biological, and hemodynamic parameters were prospectively collected on individual files. We conducted the current study to assess retrospectively the role of the hemodynamic mechanisms of tissue hypoxia: ischemia, passive venous congestion, and hypoxemia. Among the 142 episodes of hypoxic hepatitis, 138 were separated in 4 main groups based on clinical features: decompensated congestive heart failure (80 cases), acute cardiac failure (20 cases), exacerbated chronic respiratory failure (19 cases), and toxic/septic shock (19 cases). An elementary hemodynamic evaluation, including blood pressure, central venous pressure, and arterial blood gas analysis, was carried out in every episode and a more complete hemodynamic assessment through pulmonary artery catheterization was performed in 61 episodes. The hemodynamic mechanisms responsible for hypoxic hepatitis were different in the 4 groups. In congestive heart failure and acute heart failure, the hypoxia of the liver resulted from decreased hepatic blood flow (ischemia) due to left-sided heart failure and from venous congestion secondary to right-sided heart failure. In chronic respiratory failure, liver hypoxia was mainly due to profound hypoxemia. In toxic/septic shock, oxygen delivery to the liver was not decreased but oxygen needs were increased, while the liver was unable to use oxygen properly. In all conditions underlying hypoxic hepatitis, except toxic/septic shock, a shock state was observed in only about 50% of the cases. Therefore, the expressions "shock liver" or "ischemic hepatitis" are misleading and should be replaced by the more general term "hypoxic hepatitis."

Hypoxic hepatitis caused by acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory failure: a case-controlled, hemodynamic study of 17 consecutive cases

Out of a prospective series of 142 consecutive episodes of hypoxic (ischemic) hepatitis (HH), we identified 17 episodes associated with an acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory failure (CRF) without left cardiac failure. In the aim to evaluate the role of arterial hypoxemia in the pathogenesis of HH associated with respiratory failure, these 17 episodes of HH (study group) were hemodynamically compared with a control group of 17 episodes of HH associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) (control group 1) and a group of 16 episodes of acute respiratory failure (ARF) not complicated by HH (control group 2). Arterial hypoxemia was significantly more severe in the study group (arterial blood tension in O2 [PaO2], 34 mm Hg) than in control group 1 (PaO2, 70 mm Hg; P <.0001) and control group 2 (PaO2, 45.5 mm Hg; P =.002). The role of arterial hypoxemia, however, appeared weakened by comparable degrees of systemic hypotension and liver passive congestion in episodes of HH associated with CRF and episodes of HH associated with CHF. Finally, the causative role of arterial hypoxemia emerged from hemodynamic measurements of cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistances (SVR), and oxygen transport: systemic hypotension in HH associated with CHF (control group 1) was the result of a fall in CI (median, 2. 33 L/min. m2; range, 1.21-3.14 L/min. m2) associated with high SVR (median, 2,492 dyn. s/cm5. m2; range, 1,382-4,053 dyn. s/cm5. m2), whereas in HH associated with respiratory failure (study group), systemic hypotension was the result of a fall in SVR (median, 1,053 dyn. s/cm5. m2; range, 646-3,148 dyn. s/cm5. m2), resulting in high CI (median, 4.23 L/min. m2; range, 1.9-5.32 L/min. m2) (P =.0087 and. 0038 for cardiac index and SVR, respectively). Moreover, measurements of oxygen transport in patients with HH associated with respiratory failure showed low values of O2 delivery (DO2) (median, 376 mL/min. m2; range, 253-427 mL/min. m2) as a result of extreme arterial hypoxemia despite high CI. In conclusion, these hemodynamic results and additional measurements of hepatic blood flow (HBF) by the method of galactose clearance at a low concentration suggest that in the setting of HH associated with respiratory failure, the liver is not "ischemic," despite hypotension, but rather "hypoxic" as a result of the combination of severe arterial hypoxemia and elevated central venous pressure (CVP).

Ischemic hepatitis in a patient with congestive cardiomyopathy: an innovative approach to therapy using intravenous dobutamine

Patients who sustain a transient period of hypotension or low cardiac output can develop massive elevations of the serum transaminases without serum markers of acute hepatitis, a recent myocardial infarction or exposure to toxins and chemicals. This condition is often termed "ischemic hepatitis" (IH), with its pathological correlate being centrilobular necrosis. Recognition of IH can help in the appropriate management of these patients, and avoid unnecessary diagnostic testing. The authors describe a patient with congestive cardiomyopathy in whom IH developed as part of a complicated hospital course. The condition appeared to reverse with the administration of dobutamine, suggesting inotropic therapy as an appropriate treatment modality.

Severe cardiomyopathy simulating hepatitis in adolescence

Two adolescent patients referred for evaluation of severe "hepatitis" were found to have clinically unsuspected cardiac failure. Clinical profiles were characterized by anorexia, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, mild jaundice, initially predominantly indirect hyperbilirubinemia, profound elevations of transaminases, and prolonged prothrombin time. Left ventricular failure and low cardiac output were documented by clinical examination, echocardiography, and measurements of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index. Acute and chronic intrinsic liver disease was ruled out by appropriate tests. At autopsy, pathologic lesions of centrilobular necrosis characteristic of hepatic hypoxia were noted, and there was evidence of marked myocardial degeneration. These two cases emphasize the need for careful cardiac examination when evaluating acute hepatitis.

Shock liver. Case report with long-term survival

A case of reversible hepatic failure due to cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction is described. The hepatic failure was characterized by portal systemic encephalopathy and markedly abnormal results of liver function tests. Concomitant renal failure required peritoneal dialysis. Long-term survival (nine years) and return of normal liver function were observed.

Interpretation of blood chemistries, part 1

Multichannel biochemical analyzers, which simultaneously measure numerous chemical constituents of blood and provide a printout of results in a matter of minutes, have become useful diagnostic tools in modern medical practice. This two-part article shows by actual examples how to make the most of such data in diagnosing disease and monitoring its course. Part 2 will be published next month.

Ischemic hepatitis

Seven patients with cardiovascular disease had clinical episodes and marked transaminase elevations that suggested viral hepatitis, but all had morphologic evidence (from liver biopsy or autopsy specimens) that documented centrilobular necrosis (ischemic hepatitis) with no evidence of viral or drug injury. Several also had moderate or marked passive congestion of the liver so the liver biopsies of 15 additional patients were retrospectively reviewed. In this latter group congestion alone was associated with normal or minimal elevation in transaminases while all patients with notable (greater than 5 times normal) transaminase elevations had centrilobular necrosis. Congestion alone, no matter how severe or prolonged, seems to do little if any damage to the liver. Centrilobular necrosis, or ischemic hepatitis, correlates with significant hypertransaminasemia, appears to result from failure of hepatic perfusion (with or without preceding hypotension), and presents with clinical and laboratory manifestations that suggest viral hepatitis.

The shock liver. Clinical and biochemical findings in patients with centrilobular liver necrosis following cardiogenic shock

Five patients with severe heart disease developed cardiogenic shock of more than 24 hours' duration. As a sequela to the shock, severe liver affection was demonstrated. Serum aspartate aminotransferases and serum lactate dehydrogenases showed very high activities. The prothrombin-proconvertin index was reduced to less than 25% of the normal. Four of the patients were jaundiced. The condition gave rise to some differential diagnostic problems. Liver biopsies were available from four of the patients, and histological examination of an autopsy specimen of the liver was performed in each case. The liver histology showed centrilobular necrosis and haemorrhage in all patients. It seems that centrilobular fibrosis develops later in the condition. The pathogenesis of this liver affection is probably hypoxic injury to the centrilobular areas of the liver lobule due to reduced liver blood flow.