Definition

Hepatic ischemia is a condition in which the liver does not get enough blood or oxygen, causing injury to liver cells.

Figures

Alternative Names

Ischemic hepatitis; Shock liver

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Low blood pressure from any condition can lead to hepatic ischemia. Such conditions may include:

• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Dehydration
• Heart failure
• Infection
• Severe bleeding

Other causes may include:

• Blood clots in the main artery to the liver (hepatic artery) after a liver transplant
• Swelling of blood vessels leading to reduced blood flow (vasculitis)

Symptoms

If low blood pressure continues for a long time, you may feel weak and lightheaded. However, the period of low blood pressure may be brief and produce no symptoms. Damage to the liver cells usually does not cause symptoms until it affects liver function.

Blood clots in the liver's main artery may cause abdominal pain.

Signs and tests

The following tests will be done:

• Blood tests to check liver function (AST and ALT )
• Doppler ultrasound of the liver's blood vessels

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. Low blood pressure and blood clots must be properly treated.

Expectations (prognosis)

Patients generally recover if the illness causing hepatic ischemia can be treated. Death from liver failure due to hepatic ischemia is very rare.

Complications

Liver failure is a rare but life-threatening complication.

Calling your health care provider

See your health care provider right away if you have persistent weakness or symptoms of shock or dehydration.

Prevention

Quickly treating the causes of low blood pressure may prevent hepatic ischemia.

References

Hauser SC. Vascular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 145.

Stevens WE, Patil A. Vascular disease of the liver. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 83.

Disclaimers

• The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
• A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
• Call 911 for all medical emergencies.
• Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

©1997 - A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.