Diagnostic value of a liver biopsy in patients with an acute liver failure or acute liver injury. Issue 7 (29th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hunyady, Peter; Herrmann, Eva; Bojunga, Joerg; Friedrich-Rust, Mireen; Pathil, Anita; Zeuzem, Stefan; Mihm, Ulrike
• Is Part Of: European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology. Volume 34:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 801
• Page End: 806
• Publication Date: 2022-04-29
• Subjects: acute liver failure -- acute liver injury -- autoimmune hepatitis -- drug-induced liver injury -- liver biopsy; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases; Liver -- Diseases; Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002382
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-691X

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: The diagnostic value of liver biopsy in patients with acute liver injury or acute liver failure (ALI/ALF) was investigated. Methods: Data from the initial event and follow-up visits were retrospectively analyzed in all patients with a liver biopsy during ALI/ALF from January 2010 to May 2020 at the University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany. Results: The cohort comprised 66 patients. Post-biopsy hemorrhage occurred in 2 of 66 but was self-limited. In five patients suspected liver involvement by a systemic extrahepatic disease was confirmed and excluded in eight patients. In 4 of 66 patients, the etiology of ALI/ALF remained unknown. Liver biopsy hinted at the etiology of ALI/ALF in 2 of 6 patients with rare diagnoses (hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: 2 of 66; ischemic liver injury: 1 of 66, ALI/ALF due to a systemic infection: 3 of 66). In 31 of 34 patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI), histopathology suggested DILI; in further 2 patients, DILI was among the differential diagnoses. However, DILI was also the histopathologically preferred diagnosis in 12 of 15 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Only in 3 of 15 patients, histopathology was considered compatible with AIH. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and autoantibodies during ALI/ALF were higher in patients with AIH than with DILI. Patients with AIH did not show a more pronounced biochemical response to corticosteroids in the first 10 days of treatment than patients with DILI. Conclusions: Liver biopsy is indispensable when liver involvement by an extrahepatic disease is suspected. To distinguish AIH from DILI in ALI/ALF, serum IgG, and autoantibodies seem more helpful than liver biopsy; long-term follow-up is needed in these patients.