[Hypoxic hepatitis. Prospective, clinical and hemodynamic study of 45 cases]

The authors report 45 episodes of centrilobular liver cell necrosis, called ischemic hepatitis, in 43 cardiac patients. In 75 percent of the episodes, centrilobular liver cell necrosis was preceded by a period of progressive deterioration of myocardiac function. In 100 percent of the episodes, liver cell necrosis occurred after an acute clinical event inducing a transient fall of cardiac output. Shock was observed in only 47 percent of the episodes. The biological hallmarks of this centrilobular liver cell necrosis were a massive increase in serum aminotransferase levels and in 85 percent of the episodes, a decrease in the prothrombine time below 50 percent of control level. The mortality rate, 15 days after admission, was 42 percent. Prognosis was mainly related to cardiac function. The hemodynamic comparison between the 45 episodes of centrilobular liver cell necrosis and 22 cases of cardiogenic shock without liver cell necrosis showed that, besides hepatic ischemia, passive venous congestion of the liver and arterial hypoxemia were also involved in the onset of liver cell necrosis in these cardiac patients. Among these 45 episodes of liver cell necrosis of cardiac origin, a unique case of hepatic necrosis secondary to major hypoxemia and passive venous congestion, despite an high cardiac output was observed and is reported in detail. Accordingly, the appellation "hypoxic hepatitis" seems to be more appropriate than "ischemic hepatitis".