Peliosis hepatis in chronic kidney disease

Q: Peliosis hepatis in chronic kidney disease patients get treated by kidney transplantation?  

A) True 
B) False 


 Answer: B 

Peliosis hepatis, first described about 70 years ago, is one dreaded disease which has many etiologies but unfortunately no specific treatment. Moreover, it goes undiagnosed without any symptom for an extended period. Although mostly limited to the liver, it may occur in other organs such as spleen or lungs. By definition, it a proliferation of the sinusoidal hepatic capillaries that results in cystic blood-filled cavities throughout the liver. It may occur due to drugs (steroids are the most common), underlying immune disorders or infections particularly with tuberculosis.

For reasons not clearly understood, in renal patients peliosis hepatis either gets acquired or gets worse after transplant. Probable etiologies are immunosuppressant drugs or development of opportunistic infections after transplantation.

#transplantation
#hepatology
#nephrology 


References:

1. ZAK FG. Peliosis hepatis. Am J Pathol 1950; 26:1. 

2. Izumi S, Nishiuchi M, Kameda Y, et al. Laparoscopic study of peliosis hepatis and nodular transformation of the liver before and after renal transplantation: natural history and aetiology in follow-up cases. J Hepatol 1994; 20:129.

 3. Cavalcanti R, Pol S, Carnot F, et al. Impact and evolution of peliosis hepatis in renal transplant recipients. Transplantation 1994; 58:315. 

4. Ahsan N, Rao KV. Hepatobiliary diseases after kidney transplantation unrelated to classic hepatitis virus. Semin Dial 2002; 15:358.