CREATION of ALLAH

Before discussion we should know some question to ask frequently..

what is liver?

-it is one of the largest organ of the body

where its location?

-most of its part located in right hypochondrium , extend to epigastrium

what are the parts of the liver?

-right lobe and left lobe.right lobe forms the three quarters of the liver

few anatomy of the liver ?

-macroscopic:

color : reddish brown

weight : about 1.5 kilogram

suspend on upper part of the abdomen through some

ligaments and peritoneal reflections :

a. right triangular ligament

b. left triangular ligament

c. falciform ligament

microscopic :

functional unit of liver : hepatic lobule

it is 1-2mm nodule around a tributary of central vein ,portal tract at

the peripheri.the portal tract contains a branch of hepatic artery , a branch

of portal vein and biliary duct

the main cell types are :

a. hepatocytes : - metabolically active

b. perisinusoidal (ITO) cells - synthesis of extra-cellular matrix glycoprotine(gp)collagen

c. others : kupffer cell(macrophage), stellate cells , lymphocyte

natural killer cells

BILIRUBIN METABOLISM:

Unconjugated (indirect)

Erythrocytes (red blood cells) generated in the bone marrow are disposed of in the spleen when they get old or damaged. This releases hemoglobin, which is broken down to heme as the globin parts are turned into amino acids. The heme is then turned into unconjugated bilirubin in the reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen. This unconjugated bilirubin is not soluble in water. It is then bound to albumin and sent to the liver.

Conjugated (direct)

In the liver it is conjugated with glucuronic acid by the enzyme glucuronyltransferase, making it soluble in water. Much of it goes into the bile and thus out into the small intestine. Some of the conjugated bilirubin remains in the large intestine and is metabolised by colonic bacteria to urobilinogen, which is further metabolized to stercobilinogen, and finally oxidised to stercobilin. This stercobilin gives feces its brown color. Some of the urobilinogen is reabsorbed (enterohepatic circulation) and excreted in the urine along with an oxidized form, urobilin.

what is Jaundice?

Jaundice (also known as icterus;) is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae(whites of the eyes), and other mucous membranes caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia )

broad classification of jaundice

-1. haemolytic

2. hepatocelluler

3. obstructive

pathophysiology of different types of jaundice :

Pathophysiology

The mechanisms responsible for jaundice:

1.include excess production,

2.decreased hepatic uptake or impaired conjugation of bilirubin,

3.intrahepatic cholestasis,

4.hepatocellular injury and

5.extrahepatic obstruction.

Jaundice becomes noticeable when the serum bilirubin level reaches approximately 3.0 mg per dL (52 (micro)mol per L).

UNCONJUGATED HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA

Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia may result from excessive production of unconjugated bilirubin or from decreased ability to conjugate bilirubin.

Thus, the causes are:

a. hemolytic (excess production) or

b. hepatic (decreased conjugation).

Hemolysis may be due to

intrinsic defects in blood cells, such as

a. hemoglobinopathies,

b. enzyme abnormalities or

c. cell structure defects .

Extrinsic factors, including

a. drug toxicity,

b. infectious agents,

c. immunologic abnormalities,

d. malignancy and trauma, can also result in hemolysis.

Hepatic causes of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia are:

1. disorders involving defective uptake and impaired conjugation of bilirubin.

2. decreased (UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity causes mild increases in unconjugated bilirubin eg. Gilbert's syndrome is a relatively common inherited condition

3. Physiologic jaundice of the newborn represents defective uptake due to immaturity of hepatic cells.

Breastmilk jaundice results from competitive inhibition of UDP-glucuronyl transferase by the maternal hormone pregnanediol.

Type 1 and type 2 nonhemolytic jaundice are manifestations of inherited defects that cause moderate or severe increases in unconjugated bilirubin. Type 1 nonhemolytic jaundice (formerly known as Crigler-Najjar syndrome) represents total absence of UDP-glucuronyl transferase and is usually fatal in infancy. Type 2 is characterized by a marked decrease in the enzyme.

CONJUGATED HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA

Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia occurs when bilirubin is returned to the bloodstream after conjugation in the liver, instead of draining into the bile ducts.

The most common causes are:
1. hepatocellular disease,
2. intrahepatic cholestasis and
3. extrahepatic obstruction.
Hepatocellular dysfunction: may be due to
a. hepatitis,
b. cirrhosis,
c. tumor invasion or
d. toxic injury .
Intrahepatic cholestatic syndromes: may occur in
a. hepatitis,
b. in pregnancy and
c. with certain medications, such as phenothiazines and estrogens.
The mechanism of drug-induced jaundice may be intrahepatic cholestasis or direct hepatocellular injury.

d. Primary biliary cirrhosis and cholangiocarcinoma also can induce cholestasis.
e. Dubin-Johnson and Rotor syndromes are rare inherited disorders that may cause
jaundice due to impaired excretion of conjugated bilirubin.

Extrahepatic obstruction:
occurs when :
a.stone,
b.stricture or
c.tumor blocks the flow of bile within the extrahepatic biliary tree.

Predominantly Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia

a. Excess production of bilirubin

b. Hemolytic anemias

c. Resorption of blood from internal hemorrhage (e.g.,alimentary tract bleeding,hematomas)

d. Ineffective erythropoiesis syndromes (e.g., pernicious anemia, thalassemia)

e. Reduced hepatic uptake

f. Drug interference with membrane carrier systems

g. Diffuse hepatocellular disease (e.g., viral or drug-induced hepatitis, cirrhosis)

h. Impaired bilirubin conjugation

I. Physiologic jaundice of the newborn

Predominantly Conjugated Hyperbilirubinemia

a. Deficiency in canalicular membrane transporters

b. Drug-induced canalicular membrane dysfunction (e.g., oral contraceptives, cycloporine)

c. Hepatocellular damage or toxicity (e.g., viral or drug-induced hepatitis, total parenteral nutrition, systemic infection)

d. Impaired intra- or extra-hepatic bile flow

e. Inflammatory destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts (e.g., primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, graft-versus-host disease, liver transplantation)

laboratory diagnosis of jaundice (common for any liver diseases )

Test Category

Serum Measurement*

Hepatocyte integrity

Biliary excretory function