Substantial hepatic necrosis is prognostic in fulminant liver failure

AIM To evaluate if any association existed between the extent of hepatic necrosis in initial liver biopsies and patient survival.METHODS Thirty-seven patients with fulminant liver failure, whose liver biopsy exhibited substantial necrosis, were identified and included in the study. The histological and clinical data was then analyzed in order to assess the relationship between the extent of necrosis and patient survival, with and without liver transplantation. The patients were grouped based on the etiology of hepatic necrosis. Each of the etiology groups were then further stratified according to whether or not they had received a liver transplant post-index biopsy, and whether or not the patient survived.RESULTS The core tissue length ranged from 5 to 44 mm with an average of 23 mm. Causes of necrosis included 14 autoimmune hepatitis, 10 drug induced liver injury(DILI), 9 hepatitis virus infection, and 4 unknown origin. Among them, 11 showed submassive(26%-75% of the parenchymal volume) and 26 massive(76%-100%) necrosis. Transplant-free survival was worse in patients with a higher extent of necrosis(40%, 71.4% and 100% in groups with necrosis of 76%-100%, 51%-75%and 26%-50%, respectively). Additionally, transplantfree survival rates were 66.7%, 57.1%, and 25.0% in groups of autoimmune hepatitis, DILI, and viral hepatitis, respectively. Even after liver transplantation, the survival rate in patients as a result of viral hepatitis remained the lowest(80%, 100%, and 40% in groups of autoimmune hepatitis, DILI, and viral hepatitis, respectively).CONCLUSION Adequate liver biopsy with more than 75% necrosis is associated with significant transplant-free mortality that is critical in predicting survival.     

Sulfasalazine-induced fulminant hepatic failure.

We report two cases of massive hepatic necrosis associated with sulfasalazine. Both patients had underlying inflammatory bowel disease. One of the patients had a history of an ill-defined autoimmune disorder (Sj?gren's syndrome). Symptoms and signs of a generalized hypersensitivity reaction were present in both patients. One patient died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage while awaiting transplant, the second died 2 weeks after transplant from disseminated aspergillosis. These two cases remind us of one of the potential hazards of sulfasalazine at a time when alternative therapies are now available.     

Prognostic indicators in fulminant hepatic failure.

Because of the inhomogeneous prognosis in fulminant hepatic failure, prognostic criteria are required which help to establish the indication for liver transplantation as a successful therapeutic procedure. In our study of 33 patients with fulminant hepatic failure (94% viral hepatitis, 67% hepatitis B), serum bilirubin > 320 or < 160 mumol/L, serum creatinine > 110 mumol/L, prothrombin time < 15% of the normal value and duration of jaundice until onset of encephalopathy > 7 days indicated a fatal outcome. When criteria described by O'Grady et al. were used, only limited predictability was achieved. This, as well as the frequently contradictory results of the few prognostic studies published so far, is probably due to the regional differences in the etiology and the different clinical courses of fulminant hepatic failure.     

Acute massive hepatic necrosis with fatal liver failure

A review was made of the hospital records of 33 patients who died of massive liver necrosis, which was confirmed at autopsy, from 1946 through 1968, in three hospitals in Richmond, Virginia. Although the etiology is difficult to prove, the clinical picture and time sequence indicated that the offending agent was: drug in 8; serum hepatitis in 11; infectious hepatitis in 11; and halothane in 3. Of 19 cases in which prothrombin time was determined, 17 had values below 23%. Leukocytosis, often marked, was present in 28 of 33. This study suggests, but does not prove, that the incidence of massive necrosis of the liver is increasing.     

肿瘤坏死因子α致暴发性肝功能衰竭小鼠肠上皮细胞凋亡的作用

目的研究肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)对暴发性肝功能衰竭(FHF)小鼠肠黏膜上皮细胞凋亡的作用。方法用D-氨基半乳糖(GalN) 脂多糖(LPS)或TNFα造FHF小鼠模型;酶联免疫吸附法测定血清TNFα含量;光学显微镜和电子显微镜观察肠组织;末端转移酶介导的dUTP缺口末端标记法检测肠组织细胞凋亡情况;免疫组织化学法检测肿瘤坏死因子受体I(TNFRⅠ)蛋白在肠组织的表达与分布。结果实验各组动物各时间点光学显微镜下肠黏膜上皮细胞结构均保持完整,电镜下可见肝功能衰竭组有典型的凋亡细胞;对照组、LPS组、GalN组血清TNFα水平几乎正常,凋亡率低且基本没有TNFRⅠ蛋白表达;GalN LPS组血清TNFα水平12h明显升高(P<0.01),且TNFRⅠ蛋白在6h(大肠:2.82e 4±4.60e 3;小肠:1.14e 4±2.13e 3)即有表达,此时肠上皮细胞凋亡不明显,9h和12hTNFRⅠ蛋白表达明显增加,同时肠上皮细胞凋亡也明显。用GalN TNFα造FHF模型,结果也与GalN LPS组类似。应用抗TNFα抗体,可降低TNFRⅠ蛋白表达和减少肠上皮细胞凋亡的发生。结论TNFα能诱导肝功能衰竭小鼠肠上皮细胞凋亡,抗TNFα抗体能阻断这一作用;在FHF的模型动物中,TNFRⅠ蛋白表达增多,TNFRⅠ蛋白表达与肠上皮细胞凋亡在一定程度上呈正相关。     

Nicotinic acid-induced fulminant hepatic failure

A 46-year-old man began taking nicotinic acid, 3 g daily, for hypercholesterolemia. A month later, he developed clinical and biochemical evidence of modest hepatocellular injury, and therapy was stopped. It was restarted 6 weeks later, and 10 weeks after that, the patient presented with fulminant hepatic failure, which resolved rapidly after cessation of nicotinic acid therapy. We suggest that nicotinic acid was the cause of his liver disease, that this case is of particular note because of the rather short period of therapy before the onset of liver injury and the severity of the hepatic failure, and that the probable increased use of nicotinic acid for serum cholesterol control makes it especially important for physicians and their patients to be alert to the signs of hepatotoxicity.     

Acid-base and metabolic disturbances in fulminant hepatic failure.

In 28 patients with fulminant hepatic failure alkalaemia was present in 49 of a total of 65 observations. Alkalaemia was due primarlily to a low Pa, C02 in 30 instances and to raised plasma bicarbonate in 16 instances. Blood lactate, pyruvate, and acetoacetate were significantly raised, and in individual cases, blood citrate, succinate, and fumarate were elevated. Blood citrate rose progressively as the clinical condition worsened. Metabolic acidosis was only present in four patients. In three of these patients, all of whom had taken an overdose of paracetamol, the acidosis was severe, present before the onset of clinical heparic failure, and associated with hypoglycaemiaand mild hypotension. In two of these patients the acidosis was shown to be due to accumulation of lactic acid. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations were elevated out of proportion to the degree of ketosis.     

Budd-Chiari syndrome presenting as fulminant hepatic failure.

Two cases of the Budd-Chiari syndrome are described in whom the diagnosis was finally confirmed at necropsy. The presentation was with encephalopathy, occurring within eight weeks of first symptoms and coming therefore within the definition of fulminant hepatic failure. In one, thought to have non-A, non-B hepatitis, encephalopathy progressed to grade 4 coma with death 12 days after presentation. In the other, mistakenly thought to have intra-abdominal malignancy, an exploratory laparotomy exacerbated the encephalopathy with death three weeks later. In neither case were non-invasive investigations, such as ultrasound and isotope scanning, carried out which might have facilitated an earlier diagnosis and consideration for orthotopic liver transplantation, probably the most appropriate form of therapy for these very severe cases.     

Metastatic carcinoma presenting as fulminant hepatic failure.

An unusual cause of fulminant hepatic failure is described. The patient, who presented with symptoms of liver disease, proved to have a small primary oat cell carcinoma of the lung with massive hepatic metastases. The clinical evolution was rapid, with marked elevations of SGOT (this without a prior hypotensive episode) and hepatic coma. Examination of the liver showed two types of necrosis: 1. infarction secondary to multiple tumor emboli in portal vessels and 2. overrunning of hepatic cell plates by expanding masses of tumor cells (somewhat analogous to piecemeal necrosis).     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces apoptosis of enterocytes in mice with fulminant hepatic failure

AIM: To explore the alterations of intestinal mucosa morphology, and the effects of tumor necrosis factor a (TNFα) on enterocyte apoptosis in mice with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). METHODS: Liver damage was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/TNF-α in D-galactosamine (GaIN) sensitized BALB/c mice. There were 40 mice in normal saline (NS)-treated group, 40 mice in LPS-treated group, 40 mice in GaIN-treated group, 120 mice in GaIN/ LPS-treated group and 120 mice in GaIN/ TNFα-treated group. Each group was divided into five subgroups of eight mice each. Serum samples and liver, intestinal tissues were respectively obtained at 2, 6,9,12 and 24 h after administration. Anti-TNFa monoclonal antibody was injected intravenously into GaIN/LPS-treated mice. Serum TNFα levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Serum ALT levels were determined using an automatic analyzer. The intestinal tissues were studied under light microscope and electron microscope at 2, 6, 9,12 and 24 h in mice with fulminant hepatic failure, respectively. Enterocyte apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) in intestinal tissue was tested by immunohistochemistry Envision Two Steps. RESULTS: Gut mucosa was morphologically normal at all time points in all groups, but typical apoptotic cells could be seen in all experimental groups under electron microscope. Apoptosis rate of gut mucosal epithelial cells were significantly increased at 6, 9 and 12 h, peaked at 12 h in mice with fulminant hepatic failure. TNFa induced apoptosis of enterocytes in mice with FHF. The integrated OD (IOD) levels of TNFa receptor 1 protein expressed in the intestine of mice with GaIN/LPS and GaIN/ TNFα induced FHF at 2, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h after GaIN/LPS and GaIN/TNFα administration were 169.54±52.62/905.79±111.84,11 350.67±2 133.26/28 160.37±4 601.67, 25 781.00±2 277.75/122 352.30±49 412.40, 5 241.53±3 007.24/ 49 157.93±9 804.88, 7 086.13±1 031.15/3 283.45±127.67, respectively, compared with those in control groups (with NS, LPS and GaIN administration, respectively). IOD level of TNFR1 changed significantly at 6, 9 and 12 h after GaIN/LPS and GalN/TNFa administration. The expression of TNFR1 protein was significantly higher at 9 h after GaIN/LPS and GaIN/TNFα administration than that in control groups. Protein expression of TNFR1 was positively correlated with enterocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSION: TNFα can induce apoptosis of enterocytes in mice with FHF. Anti-TNFα IgG can inhibit this role.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha in the pathogenesis of human and murine fulminant hepatic failure

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha/TNF receptor system is critical for liver development because hepatocytes undergo apoptosis if the antiapoptotic cascades resulting in RelA NF-kappaB activation are not effective. Therefore, we studied the role of TNF-alpha in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and developed a new therapeutic strategy. METHODS: Serum levels and hepatic expression of TNF-alpha and both TNF receptors were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. Adenoviral vectors were constructed expressing dominant-negative proteins interfering with intracellular TNF-alpha-dependent pathways. The relevance of these constructs was studied in primary mouse hepatocytes and in a murine model of FHF. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha and TNF receptors are significantly increased in FHF; this increase correlates with patient prognosis. In livers of patients with FHF, infiltrating mononuclear cells express high amounts of TNF-alpha and hepatocytes overexpress TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1). Apoptotic hepatocytes are significantly increased in FHF, and there is a strong correlation with TNF-alpha expression, which is even more pronounced in areas of mononuclear infiltrates. In an in vivo FHF model, the Fas-associated death domain (FADD), adenovirus selectively blocked the intracellular pathway, leading to mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and, thus, apoptosis of hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the TNF-alpha/TNF-R1 system is involved in the pathogenesis of FHF in humans. Studies in this animal model indicate that FADD may serve as a molecular target to prevent liver cell death in vivo.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha increases intestinal permeability in mice with fulminant hepatic failure

AIM:To determine the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) on intestinal permeability(IP) in mice with fulminant hepatic failure(FHF),and the expression of tight junction proteins.METHODS:We selected D-lactate as an index of IP,induced FHF using D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine/TNF-α,assessed the results using an enzymatic-spectrophotometric method,transmission electron microscopy,immunohistochemistry,Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The effect of the administration of antiTNF-α immunoglobulin G(IgG) antibody,before the administration of D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide,on TNF-α was also assessed.RESULTS:IP was significantly increased in the mouse model of FHF 6 h after injection(13.57 ± 1.70 mg/L,13.02 ± 1.97 mg/L vs 3.76 ± 0.67 mg/L,P = 0.001).Electron microscopic analysis revealed tight junction(TJ) disruptions,epithelial cell swelling,and atrophy of intestinal villi.Expression of occludin and claudin-1 mRNA was significantly decreased in both FHF models(occludin:0.57 ± 0.159 fold vs baseline,P = 0.000;claudin-1:0.3067 ± 0.1291 fold vs baseline,P = 0.003),as were the distribution density of proteins in the intestinal mucosa and the levels of occludin and claudin-1 protein(occludin:0.61 ± 0.0473 fold vs baseline,P = 0.000;claudin-1:0.6633 ± 0.0328 fold vs baseline,P = 0.000).Prophylactic treatment with antiTNF-α IgG antibody prevented changes in IP(4.50 ± 0.97 mg/L vs 3.76 ± 0.67 mg/L,P = 0.791),intestinal tissue ultrastructure,and the mRNA levels of occludin and claudin-1 expression(occludin:0.8865 ± 0.0274 fold vs baseline,P = 0.505;claudin-1:0.85 ± 0.1437 fold vs baseline,P = 0.1),and in the protein levels(occludin:0.9467 ± 0.0285 fold vs baseline,P 0.05;claudin-1:0.9533 ± 0.0186 fold vs baseline,P = 0.148).CONCLUSION:Increased in IP stemmed from the downregulation of the TJ proteins occludin and claudin-1,and destruction of the TJ in the colon,which were induced by TNF-α in FHF mice.     

Unusual presentation of hepatic vascular tumors as fulminant hepatic failure.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma of the liver are rare neoplasms of vascular origin. They can present with nonspecific symptoms such as malaise and weight loss, as well as with liver-related symptoms such as abdominal pain, tender hepatomegaly and jaundice. Portal hypertension and rarely liver failure can occur. We hereby report two cases of fulminant hepatic failure that were eventually diagnosed with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma of the liver.