Hydropic liver cell

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. 

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. 

The order of bacteriostatic potency of the sulfonamides does not agree with their order of effectiveness in producing vitamin E deficiency, biotin deficiency, L. casei factor deficiency, arterial lesions, heart lesions, or hydropic degeneration of liver cells (36, 49, 103). 

Liver biopsies taken from 15 workers at a polyvinylchloride producing plant - dependent on the duration of exposure - showed focal hydropic swelling of the hepatocytes, disseminated toxic steatosis, ample hpofuscin deposits, paracrystalline inclusions in enlarged mitochondria, focal cytoplasmic degradation, and occasionally necrotic cells (SCHATTENBERG et al. 1977). 

Liver damage (hydropic degeneration of hepatic cells).. 

---