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Liver blood supply
Liver blood supply

Hepatic ischemia
Definition:
A deficiency of blood supply to the liver that causes injury to liver cells.
Alternative Names:
Ischemic hepatitis; Shock liver
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Low blood pressure from any cause, including heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, dehydration, severe bleeding, and infection.
Symptoms:

If the low blood pressure continues for an extended period, the patient may feel weak and lightheaded. However, the low blood pressure may be brief, and the patient may not have been aware. The damage to the liver cells is generally without symptoms.
Signs and tests:

AST and ALT levels in the blood typically rise 1-3 days after the episode of low blood pressure.
Treatment:

Treatment of any underlying illness and supportive care to keep the blood pressure and the blood supply to the liver stable.
Expectations (prognosis):

Patients generally recover if the underlying illness can be treated. Death from liver failure as a result of hepatic ischemia is very rare.
Complications:
  • Rare liver failure
Calling your health care provider:

Call your health provider if you have persistent weakness or signs of shock or dehydration.
Prevention:

Appropriate treatment of underlying diseases, including heart failure, infection, etc.
Review Date: 6/14/2001
Reviewed By: Andrew J. Muir, M.D. M.H.S., Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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