{"id":5406,"date":"2025-12-08T23:56:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T04:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/?post_type=chapter&p=5406"},"modified":"2026-01-12T18:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:38:38","slug":"liver-damage-liver-inflammation-hepatitis-and-liver-enzyme-blood-tests","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/chapter\/liver-damage-liver-inflammation-hepatitis-and-liver-enzyme-blood-tests\/","title":{"raw":"10p17 Liver Damage, Liver Inflammation (Hepatitis), and Liver Enzyme Blood Tests","rendered":"10p17 Liver Damage, Liver Inflammation (Hepatitis), and Liver Enzyme Blood Tests"},"content":{"raw":"

Indicators of Liver Damage:<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n

1. Liver Enzymes in Blood<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Liver enzymes<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., ALT, AST) are normally contained within hepatocytes (liver cells).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • When liver cells\u00a0rupture or die<\/strong>:\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Enzymes leak into the\u00a0bloodstream<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Elevated enzyme levels indicate\u00a0cell damage<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0hepatocyte rupture<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Blood tests measuring these enzymes can\u00a0assess the extent of liver injury<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      2.\u00a0 Impact on Liver Function<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Protein synthesis<\/strong>:\r\n
          \r\n \t
        • Damaged hepatocytes can't produce normal levels of\u00a0plasma proteins<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0clotting factors<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
        • Result:\u00a0Reduced plasma proteins<\/strong>\u00a0in blood, affecting\u00a0clotting<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0fluid balance<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
        • Bilirubin metabolism<\/strong>:\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • Damage causes\u00a0build-up<\/strong>\u00a0of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood, leading to jaundice.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n

            3.\u00a0 Hepatitis: Inflammation of the Liver<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
              \r\n \t
            • Hepatitis<\/strong>\u00a0literally means\u00a0liver inflammation<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
            • Causes:\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • Injury or irritation<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., alcohol, toxins).<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Infections<\/strong>:\u00a0Hepatitis viruses<\/strong>\u00a0(at least 5 types).<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Idiopathic<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown causes).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nPathophysiology<\/strong>\r\n
                  \r\n \t
                • Severe inflammation damages\u00a0hepatocytes<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                • Structural damage<\/strong>:\r\n
                    \r\n \t
                  • Loss of normal liver architecture.<\/li>\r\n \t
                  • Scarring (fibrosis<\/strong>) and\u00a0biliary stasis<\/strong>\u00a0(bile flow impairment).<\/li>\r\n \t
                  • Bile may\u00a0back up into the liver<\/strong>, causing further damage.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                    Signs of Liver Damage<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
                      \r\n \t
                    • Edema<\/strong>\u00a0in inflamed tissues.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    • Pain and tenderness<\/strong>\u00a0due to nerve irritation.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    • Biliary stasis<\/strong>\u00a0may reduce bile secretion or cause bile duct blockage, exacerbating liver injury.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                      Liver Structure & Function<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
                        \r\n \t
                      • ** hepatocytes **:\r\n
                          \r\n \t
                        • Main functional cells.<\/li>\r\n \t
                        • Take in\u00a0blood<\/strong>,\u00a0screen nutrients<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                        • Store\u00a0glucose<\/strong>\u00a0as glycogen,\u00a0lipids<\/strong>, and\u00a0amino acids<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                        • Produce\u00a0bile<\/strong>\u00a0and send it through\u00a0bile ducts<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                        • Damage to hepatocytes impacts:\r\n
                            \r\n \t
                          • Blood\u00a0protein<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0clotting factor<\/strong>\u00a0synthesis.<\/li>\r\n \t
                          • Bilirubin<\/strong>\u00a0processing.<\/li>\r\n \t
                          • Overall\u00a0metabolic<\/strong>\u00a0processes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                            Causes of Liver Injury<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
                              \r\n \t
                            • Alcoholic liver disease<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                            • Some causes: idiopathic<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                            • Viruses<\/strong> (including Hepatitis Virus types A, B, C, D, E):\r\n
                                \r\n \t
                              • Cause viral hepatitis, varying severity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                              • Drugs<\/strong> and toxins<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
                              • Reye syndrome<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
                              • Chronic inflammation can lead to\u00a0cirrhosis<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0liver failure<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                Summary<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n
                                  \r\n \t
                                • Elevated liver enzymes, decreased protein synthesis, and bilirubin build-up signal liver damage.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                • Hepatitis<\/strong>\u00a0involves\u00a0inflammation<\/strong>\u00a0from multiple causes and can vary from mild to severe.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                • Protecting the liver involves limiting\u00a0alcohol<\/strong>, managing\u00a0viral hepatitis infection<\/strong>, and avoiding toxins.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"

                                  Indicators of Liver Damage:<\/strong><\/h1>\n

                                  1. Liver Enzymes in Blood<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Liver enzymes<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., ALT, AST) are normally contained within hepatocytes (liver cells).<\/li>\n
                                  • When liver cells\u00a0rupture or die<\/strong>:\n
                                      \n
                                    • Enzymes leak into the\u00a0bloodstream<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                    • Elevated enzyme levels indicate\u00a0cell damage<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0hepatocyte rupture<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • Blood tests measuring these enzymes can\u00a0assess the extent of liver injury<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      2.\u00a0 Impact on Liver Function<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Protein synthesis<\/strong>:\n
                                          \n
                                        • Damaged hepatocytes can’t produce normal levels of\u00a0plasma proteins<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0clotting factors<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                        • Result:\u00a0Reduced plasma proteins<\/strong>\u00a0in blood, affecting\u00a0clotting<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0fluid balance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • Bilirubin metabolism<\/strong>:\n
                                            \n
                                          • Damage causes\u00a0build-up<\/strong>\u00a0of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood, leading to jaundice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                             <\/p>\n

                                            3.\u00a0 Hepatitis: Inflammation of the Liver<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                              \n
                                            • Hepatitis<\/strong>\u00a0literally means\u00a0liver inflammation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                            • Causes:\n
                                                \n
                                              • Injury or irritation<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., alcohol, toxins).<\/li>\n
                                              • Infections<\/strong>:\u00a0Hepatitis viruses<\/strong>\u00a0(at least 5 types).<\/li>\n
                                              • Idiopathic<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown causes).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                Pathophysiology<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                  \n
                                                • Severe inflammation damages\u00a0hepatocytes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                • Structural damage<\/strong>:\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Loss of normal liver architecture.<\/li>\n
                                                  • Scarring (fibrosis<\/strong>) and\u00a0biliary stasis<\/strong>\u00a0(bile flow impairment).<\/li>\n
                                                  • Bile may\u00a0back up into the liver<\/strong>, causing further damage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                    Signs of Liver Damage<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Edema<\/strong>\u00a0in inflamed tissues.<\/li>\n
                                                    • Pain and tenderness<\/strong>\u00a0due to nerve irritation.<\/li>\n
                                                    • Biliary stasis<\/strong>\u00a0may reduce bile secretion or cause bile duct blockage, exacerbating liver injury.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                      Liver Structure & Function<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • ** hepatocytes **:\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • Main functional cells.<\/li>\n
                                                        • Take in\u00a0blood<\/strong>,\u00a0screen nutrients<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                        • Store\u00a0glucose<\/strong>\u00a0as glycogen,\u00a0lipids<\/strong>, and\u00a0amino acids<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                        • Produce\u00a0bile<\/strong>\u00a0and send it through\u00a0bile ducts<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                        • Damage to hepatocytes impacts:\n
                                                            \n
                                                          • Blood\u00a0protein<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0clotting factor<\/strong>\u00a0synthesis.<\/li>\n
                                                          • Bilirubin<\/strong>\u00a0processing.<\/li>\n
                                                          • Overall\u00a0metabolic<\/strong>\u00a0processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                            Causes of Liver Injury<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                                              \n
                                                            • Alcoholic liver disease<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                            • Some causes: idiopathic<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                            • Viruses<\/strong> (including Hepatitis Virus types A, B, C, D, E):\n
                                                                \n
                                                              • Cause viral hepatitis, varying severity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                              • Drugs<\/strong> and toxins<\/strong><\/li>\n
                                                              • Reye syndrome<\/strong><\/li>\n
                                                              • Chronic inflammation can lead to\u00a0cirrhosis<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0liver failure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                Summary<\/strong><\/h1>\n
                                                                  \n
                                                                • Elevated liver enzymes, decreased protein synthesis, and bilirubin build-up signal liver damage.<\/li>\n
                                                                • Hepatitis<\/strong>\u00a0involves\u00a0inflammation<\/strong>\u00a0from multiple causes and can vary from mild to severe.<\/li>\n
                                                                • Protecting the liver involves limiting\u00a0alcohol<\/strong>, managing\u00a0viral hepatitis infection<\/strong>, and avoiding toxins.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":1370,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["zoe-soon"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by-nc-sa"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[60],"license":[57],"class_list":["post-5406","chapter","type-chapter","status-web-only","hentry","contributor-zoe-soon","license-cc-by-nc-sa"],"part":67,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1370"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5559,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5406\/revisions\/5559"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/67"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5406\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=5406"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=5406"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=5406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}