Can Shock Liver Be Reversed?

Shock liver is also known as ischemic hepatitis, acute hepatic infarction or hypoxic hepatitis, is a state of decreased perfusion (blood flow) and/or passive congestion to the liver resulting in liver cell damage (necrosis) due to significant hypotension and/or hypovolemia. The prevalence of shock liver has been noted around 2.4-11% in intensive care unit (ICU), which is frequent in patients with critically ill diseases such as severe anemia, chronic pericardial constriction, cardiac arrest and shock. Generally, hepatitis is the inflammation of liver that is mostly seen in viral hepatitis or toxic hepatitis with an increase in liver enzymes; however, shock liver does show an increase in liver enzymes without any liver inflammation.

Patients with shock liver show symptoms of fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, liver tenderness, hepatomegaly, low urine output (oliguria) and mental confusion that might even lead to hepatic coma in rare cases. If patient has pre-existing liver cirrhosis then it might even lead to liver failure.

Shock liver can be reversed. The treatment of shock liver is dependent on identification of the underlying cause and treating it, which can reverse shock liver, thus, shock liver is a reversible condition. Shock liver can be misdiagnosed with toxic hepatitis (paracetamol poisoning) or viral hepatitis as in both these situations there is an elevation of LFT’s, thus these conditions should be ruled out while treating shock liver.

If shock liver is due to an infection, such as sepsis, then it can be treated with antibiotic therapy. If it is due to severe hypotension or dehydration, then it can be treated with IV fluids and monitoring diet and intake of salt. If it is due to a blood clot then measures should be taken to remove or dissolve the blood clot. In very rare cases, shock liver might lead to liver failure and death. Generally, shock liver resolves or reverses in a very short period, usually within 1 to 2 weeks of the treatment of underlying cause.

Shock liver is caused due to impaired blood flow or oxygen and/or both to the liver. The most common cause of shock liver is the decreased blood flow throughout the body leading to decreased blood flow to the liver. Blood flow may be decreased in cases of heart failure, or sudden/acute large decrease in blood pressure due to either severe dehydration, profuse bleeding and/or a severe infection in the body. The decrease in oxygen level in the body may be contributed to severe respiratory disease, which might also lead to shock liver. There can also be an increased need of blood or oxygen in the body such as in sepsis that might also lead to shock liver.

Shock liver can also be caused by blocked blood vessel of liver including both hepatic artery and portal vein, due to either narrowing or blockage of the vessels. The most common cause of a blocked blood vessel is a blood clot, also known as thrombosis. Blood clots could be due to blood vessel injury such as in liver transplantation surgery, aneurysm of hepatic artery, vasculitis, sickle cell crisis, endocarditis, tumors and certain blood clotting disorders, either inherited or acquired.

The diagnosis of shock liver is confirmed with the help of liver function tests, which will show abnormally increased levels of liver transaminase enzymes including both ALT and AST, which may exceed 10,000 U/L. LFT is a marker of proper liver functioning and determining whether it is damaged or not. If liver is not functioning properly or is damaged then there will be elevated levels of AST and ALT in blood. Blood clotting tests can also be done in cases of blood clotting disorders or if it is suspected. Imaging such as Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and arteriography of the liver’s blood vessels can also be done to determine any blood clot in hepatic vessels.

Also Read:

• Ischemic Hepatitis or Shock Liver: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• What is The Prognosis for Shock Liver?
• How is Shock Liver Diagnosed?
• Can You Be Cured Of Shock Liver?
• What Are The Symptoms of Shock Liver?
• What is The Main Cause of Shock Liver?
• What Is The Best Medicine For Shock Liver?
• What Not To Eat When You Have Shock Liver?
• What To Eat When You Have Shock Liver?
• Is Shock Liver A Serious Condition?