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Hepatic ischemia
Ischemic hepatitis; Shock liver
Hepatic ischemia is a condition in which the liver does not get enough blood or oxygen, causing injury to liver cells.
Causes
Low blood pressure from any condition can lead to hepatic ischemia. Such conditions may include:
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough ...
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Abnormal heart rhythms
Abnormal heart rhythms
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Dehydration
-
Heart failure
Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...
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- 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 most often does not cause symptoms until it affects liver function.
Blood clots in the liver's main artery may cause abdominal pain.
Exams and Tests
The following tests will be done:
-
Blood tests to check liver function (
AST
and
ALT
)
AST
The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) blood test measures the level of the enzyme AST in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleALT
The alanine transaminase (ALT) blood test measures the level of the enzyme ALT in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Doppler ultrasound of the liver's blood vessels
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Low blood pressure and blood clots must be treated right away.
Outlook (Prognosis)
People generally recover if the illness causing hepatic ischemia can be treated. Death from liver failure due to hepatic ischemia is very rare.
Possible Complications
Liver failure is a rare, but life-threatening complication.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider right away if you have persistent weakness or symptoms of shock or dehydration .
Shock
Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means that the cells and organs...
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how muc...
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. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 143.
Valla DC. Vascular disease of the liver. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 85.
Review Date: 5/11/2016
Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
