Peliosis hepatis

Peliosis Hepatis is an uncommon vascular condition characterised by randomly distributed multiple blood-filled cavities throughout liver. Size of the cavities usually ranges between a few millimetres to 3 cm in diameter^[1]. In the past it was a mere histological curiosity occasionally found at autopsies but has been increasingly recognised with wide ranging conditions from AIDS to the use of anabolic steroids. It also occasionally affects spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands, bone marrow and other parts of gastrointestinal tract.^[2].

Peliosis hepatis is often erroneously written "peliosis hepatitis", despite its not being one of the hepatitides. The correct term arises from the Greek pelios, i.e. discoloured by extravasated blood, livid^[3], and the Latinized Genitive case (hepatis^[4]) of the Greek hepar, liver^[5].

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

Pathophysiology

The pathogenesis of peliosis hepatis is unknown. There are several hypotheses, such as, it arise from sinusoidal epithelial damage^[6], increased sinusoidal pressure due to obstruction in blood outflow from the live, or hepatocellular necrosis^[1].

Two morphologic patterns of hepatic peliosis were described by Yanoff and Rawson ^[7]. In the phlebectatic type, the blood-filled spaces are lined with endothelium and are associated with aneurismal dilatation of the central vein; in the parenchymal type, the spaces have no endothelial lining and they usually are associated with haemorrhagic parenchymal necrosis. Some considers both pattern to be one process, initiated by focal necrosis of liver parenchyma observed in parenchymal type progressing into formation of fibrous wall and endothelial lining around haemorrhage of phebectatic type. Fibrosis, cirrhosis, regenerative nodules, and tumours may also be seen.

Disease associations

• Infections: HIV, Bacillary peliosis (caused by genus Bartonella, bacteria responsible for cat-scratch disease which are identified histologically adjacent to the peliotic lesions^[8]), Staphylococcus aureus^[9]
• Chronic conditions: End stage renal failure, Kwashiorkor, tuberculosis and other chronic infections.
• Malignancy: Monoclonal gammopathies (multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia), Hodgkin disease, malignant histiocytosis, seminoma, hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocarcinoma,^[10]
• Renal transplants: It can be found in up to 20% patients, can be related to azathioprine or cyclosporine use and may be associated with increased risk of transplant rejection^[11][12].
• Drugs and toxins: Corticosteroids, androgens, azathioprine, tamoxifen^[13]

Clinical features

The condition is typically asymptomatic and is discovered following evaluation of abnormal liver function test. However, when severe it can manifest as jaundice, hepatomegaly, liver failure and haemoperitoneum.

Treatment

Usually directed towards management of underlying cause. Withdrawal of azathioprine leads to remission in renal transplant, bacillary peliosis responds to antibiotics. In rare circumstances partial resection of liver or transplant may be required.

Other cystic conditions of liver

• Polycystic Liver Disease
• Solitary congenital cysts
• Congenital hepatic fibrosis
• Hydatid cyst
• Von Meyenburg complexes
• Caroli's disease (type V choledochal cyst)
• Type IV choledochal cysts

References