Cell hydrops

Liver cell hydrops Liver cell hydrops is characterized by swollen hepatocytes, which contain a lot of liquid, but are generally free of fat. Hydropic liver cells may be 2 to 4 and even 10 times the size of normal hepatocytes. Cell hydrops is completely reversible when abstention is maintained. These cells usually die when alcohol intake is continued and are subsequently removed by macrophages and leucocytes. This leads to an alteration in the cytoskele-ton. Hydropically degenerated liver cells and hyaline liberated from Mallory bodies produce a leucocytic inflammatory reaction. Unless it is compensated by regenerative processes, this cellular deficit results in defective healing by fine-fibred, cell-poor fibrils. 

The chronic-duration oral MRL was derived based on the observation of increased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (an indicator of hepatotoxicity) in dogs consuming 0.6 mg/kg/day for 1 year (Hoechst 1989c). The choice of this end point is supported by the observation of hydropic hepatic cells in rats that consumed 5 mg/kg/day for 2 years (EMC 1959b). The chronic-duration MRL of 0.002 mg/kg/day was derived by dividing the NOAEL for elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (0.18 mg/kg/day) by an uncertainty factor of 100 (10 for extrapolating from animals to humans, and 10 for human variability). 

Lazze, M.C. et al., Anthocyanins protect against DNA damage induced by rert-butyl-hydroper-oxide in rat smooth muscle and hepatoma cells, Mutat. Res., 535, 103, 2003. 

Because of the loss of ionic balance, the water content of the cell increases (swelling or hydropic degeneration and membrane blebs occur). 

Al is also present in the synovial fluid and arthritis-like symptoms have been reported in patients with Al bone disease, possibly due to an inflammatory effect on the synovial cells [107, 108]. We did not see signs of arthritis shortly after the intoxication, but after several months of treatment with desferrioxamine, three patients developed a possible transient synovitis with hydrops in the knee joints. 

MORPHOLOGY OF CELL INJURY AND CELL DEATH 16.4.1 Cell Swelling (Hydropic Degeneration)... 

Acute hydrops secondary to keratoconus tends to be self-limiting in approximately 8 to 10 weeks when the corneal endothelial cells regenerate across the rupture in... 

Feathery degeneration is the term used to describe the delicate honeycomb-like, brownish streaky change of liver cells, which is due to bilirubin impregnation of the visible cytoplasmic structures. It can occur following long-term cholestasis. Cellular hydrops is evident with dilation of the endoplasmic cisternas, caused by the toxic impact of biliary acids, (s. fig. 13.4)... 

Liver cell degenerations (hydropic swelling, eosinophilic degeneration, pin cells, hyaline bodies) and cell polymorphy, single cell necrosis in the form of (acidophilic) Councilman bodies, infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages and activated stellate cells (yet only few plasma cells and neutrophilic granulocytes), proliferation of sinusoidal cells. 

Fig. 22.3 Kupffer cell nodules (arrow) in subsiding acute viral hepatitis B hydropic hepatocytes, often binuclear...

Fig. 31.7 Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Hydropic degenerated hepatocytes with Mallory s hyaline (- ) l)mphocytic and granulocytic infiltration as well as activated Kupffer cells (HE)...

Fig. 37.4 Highly differentiated, macrotrabecular hepatocellular carcinoma with hydropic swelling of the tumour cells (condition after alcohol injection)...

The homozygous state of a-thalassemia type-1 (a-Thi) leads to a form of erythroblastosis fetalis and intrauterine death [ (K2, L18, L20, L21, L22, L23, L24, L26, P4, T6, T7, T8) and others]. This form of hydrops fetalis is found in Chinese from various countries, in Filippinos, and in Thais. All children are either stillborn or die within hours after birth. The hematological observations usually include anemia with reticulo-cytosis, hypochromia with macrocytosis, aniso- and poikilocytosis, and many erythroblasts. The red cells sickle rather easily. Most fetuses are hydropic (but not all). 

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