J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.35.11.1249 on 1 November 1982. Downloaded from J Clin Pathol 1982;35:1249-1252 Liver function in septic shock JG BANKS,§ AK FOULIS,* IMcA LEDINGHAM, RNM MACSWEEN* From the University Departments ofSurgery and *Pathology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow GIl 6NT SUMMARY Serum liver function tests were estimated in 57 patients admitted to an Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) with a diagnosis of septic shock. Following an initial biochemical disturbance, persisting hyperbilirubinaemia was associated with a poor prognosis. Post-mortem liver histology in 22 patients showed varying degrees of non-specific reactive change, venous congestion, ischaemic necrosis, fatty change and intrahepatic cholestasis in 16 cases. In the remaining six cases there was moderately severe cholestasis with inspissated bile in the cholangioles. The possible aetiology of the observed cholestasis is discussed. Although multiple organ failure is a frequent cause of The duration of the shock episode was defined as death in patients requiring management in intensive the time in hours during which the systolic blood therapy units (ITU) overt hepatic failure is rare and pressure (SBP) remained at or below 100 mm of therapeutic support is usually focused on other mercury, excluding isolated readings above this level; organs, lungs, kidneys and heart in particular. this could be accurately assessed in 40 of the patients. However, Ledingham and McArdle recorded a 23% The primary source of sepsis in the patients was as incidence of jaundice in a consecutive series of follows: upper gastrointestinal tract (19), small copyright. 113 patients with septic shock. ' In the present intestine (7), large bowel (13), appendix (7), female retrospective study we have further investigated the genital (4), soft tissue (4), and others (3). Perforation incidence of hepatic dysfunction in some of these of viscera and postoperative anastomotic dehiscence patients, and have attempted to show relationships were the most frequent factors precipitating the between the hepatic dysfunction and the duration of septic shock episode. shock and the subsequent clinical course in these Serial estimations of serum bilirubin (,umol/l), patients. In addition, in a number of necropsies, we alkaline phosphatase (King Armstrong Units have noted a distinctive pattern of intrahepatic (KAU)/100 ml), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase cholestasis and attention is drawn to this (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) http://jcp.bmj.com/ morphological feature. (IU/l), total protein (g/l), and albumin (g/l), were carried out using standard laboratory techniques. Patients and methods The Limulus lysate test2 to detect endotoxaemia was carried out in 31 patients. The test was regarded In the period 1975-1978, 66 patients with a diagnosis as positive if obvious gel formation occurred after of septic shock, as defined by Ledingham and incubation of the patient's serum with the lysate for 4 McArdle, I were admitted to the ITU at the Western h at 37°C. Blood cultures were performed each time a Infirmary, Glasgow. Of these, nine were found to sample was taken for the endotoxin assay. Additional on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected have pre-existing hepatobiliary or pancreatic disease blood cultures were performed where clinically or to have "preshock" disturbances of routine liver indicated. function tests (LFTs), and they were excluded from A post-mortem examination was performed in 22 this study. Of the 57 patients studied, 27 survived, of the 30 patients who died and sections of liver tissue comprising 16 men and 11 women with a mean age of were examined using routine staining methods. 48 ± 20 (SD) yr, and a mean stay in the ITU of 22 + 18 days; the 30 in the non-survivor group Results comprised 18 men and 12 women, mean age 59 + 10 yr, and a mean stay in the ITU of 14 + 12 days. The mean duration of shock for survivors was 13 + 8 h and for non-survivors 23 ± 16 h. Positive blood cultures were obtained in 26 (46%) patients with Accepted for publication 5 May 1982 Gram-negative isolated in 17 § Present address: Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 organisms being of 8HD. these; Escherichia coli (in 8 patients) was the most 1249 J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.35.11.1249 on 1 November 1982. Downloaded from 1250 Banks, Foulis, Ledingham, Macsween commonly cultured organism. The Limulus lysate Table 1 Liverfunction tests within 48 hours ofseptic shock test was positive in all of the 31 patients in whom this episode assay was performed. Survivors Non-survivors Clinical jaundice was present in 36 (63%) patients, (n = 27) (n = 30) 24 of the non-survivors as compared with 12 of the Mean + SEMMean t SEM survivors, a statistically significant difference (p < Bilirubin (pmol/l) 44 t 9 81 t 21 0-001 - X 2 test). The results of the LFTs carried out AlkalinePhosphatase(KAU/100ml) 11 + 1 14 + 2 SGOT (IU/1) 110 ± 30 105 ± 26 within 48 h of the onset of the shock episode are SGPT (IU/1) 46 ± 10 74 ± 21 summarised in Table I. In 85% of the patients at least Albumin (g/l) 31 + 1 28 t 1 one of the indices measured was found to be Total protein (g/l) 58 ± 2 55 ± 1 abnormal. There were no statistical differences n = number of patients. (Student's t test) between survivors and non-survivors for any of the LFT indices. When mean values for LFT indices were compared 2, 5 and 10 days after the Table 2 Liverfunction tests (mean SEM) in 40 patients onset of shock, there was a significantly higher mean within 48 h ofthe onsetofseptic shock related to the duration bilirubin level (p < 0 05, Student's t test) on day 10 in ofthe shock episode the 16 non-survivors (110 + 28 ,mol/l) as compared with 12 survivors (30 ± 8 j±mol/1); the other indices Duration ofshock episode (h) two were not significantly different between these 6 6-12 13-24 >24 groups. (n 9) (n =8) (n = 16) (n = 7) in to the duration of Analysis of the LFTs relation Bilirubin (>±mol/1) 44 + 12 36 + 9 70 ± 17 151 + 71 the shock episode is shown in Table 2. While this Alkaline Phosphatase shows a trend towards more deranged LFTs the more (KAU/100 ml) 13 2 12+ 1 10 1 13 ± 4 SGOT (IU/I) 53 16 88 20 114 36 176 ± 86 prolonged the shock episode the results do not attain SGPT (IU/l) 29 12 52 12 42 9 142 ± 65 statistical significance. n = number of patients. copyright. POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION OF LIVER Macroscopically the livers showed no unusual features and in none of the 22 cases examined was Discussion there any evident large duct obstruction. Microscopically the livers in 16 cases showed a Cardiogenic shock, bacterial sepsis, septic/endotoxin number of changes comprising varying degrees of shock and toxic shock are recognised causes of liver non-specific reactive changes with focal liver cell injury. In acute cardiogenic or hypovolaemic shock necrosis, Kupffer cell hyperplasia and portal tract with inadequate hepatic perfusion, ischaemic liver inflammation, venous congestion, ischaemic cell necrosis may be extensive resulting in jaundice http://jcp.bmj.com/ necrosis, fatty change and intrahepatic cholestasis. with biochemical features resembling those seen in In six cases, however, the livers showed an unusual acute hepatitis.-5 Jaundice associated with lobar pattern of cholestasis. In these there was moderately pneumonia was first reported in 1836,6 and a review severe cholestasis, predominantly perivenular but in of the syndrome as it occurred in Western countries some extending to the periportal zone; intracellular was published by Zimmerman and Thomas in 1951;7 bile retention and canalicular concretions were in recent years the syndrome has been reported was a present and there related reactive inflammatory mainly from African countries.8 The term cholangitis on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected process with Kupffer cell hyperplasia and aggregates lenta was applied in 1939 to a syndrome in which of ceroid-laden macrophages. In addition, however, jaundice occurred in association with streptococcal at the portal/parenchymal interface the cholangioles infection.9 Infection by Gram-negative bacteria in (canals of Hering) were prominently dilated, their particular has, however, been most commonly epithelium swollen, and many of them contained associated with clinical jaundice, although a variety inspissated strongly PAS-positive bile concretions of organisms have been incriminated. This is a well (Figure). Neutrophil polymorphs were conspicuous known and important cause of jaundice in the within the dilated cholangioles and also surrounding neonatal period and in infants,'10 but which may also them and extending into the periportal parenchyma. affect adults.' '" These topics have been well The portal tracts showed some mild oedema, with a reviewed by Zimmerman and his colleagues.'5 In the light mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate. The bile ducts newly recognised toxic shock syndrome, associated appeared unremarkable. No bile concretions were with an exotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus, noted within them and there was no evident acute jaundice is a frequent feature 16 and in one series of 22 cholangitis. patients cholestasis was a feature in all.' J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.35.11.1249 on 1 November 1982. Downloaded from Liver function in septic shock 1251 Post-mortem liverfroma patient dying with septic shock Post-mortem liver from a patient dying with septic shock other drugs. Most patients received intravenous following an antrectomy for a gastric carcinoma. There is a hyperalimentation, some had received blood mild chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the portal tract, transfusions and some had haematomas with but note that the bile duct appears normal and there is no extravascular haemolysis.