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Perfused Kupffer cell mass

Correlation with histology and severity of chronic liver disease

  • Liver: Cirrhosis, Fibrosis, Portal Hypertension, And Transplantation
  • Published:
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Abstract

The perfused Kupffer cell mass determines sulfur colloid distribution by liver spleen scan (LSS) and is proportional to the perfused hepatocyte mass. This accounts for the correlation of sulfur colloid distribution with tests of hepatic function and raises the question of whether the LSS can be used as a quantitative test of hepatic function. The recent ability to precisely measure sulfur colloid distribution by single-photon-emission computerized tomography (SPECT) prompted us to evaluate the clinical value in 329 consecutive patients with adequate LSS and clinical information, of which 27 apparent normals and 220 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) were included in this study. The liver-bone marrow index (LBI) indicated the distribution of counts between the liver and bone marrow. The liver-spleen index (LSI) indicated the distribution between liver and spleen adjusted for spleen size. The LBI and LSI correlated with each other (r=0.753;P<0.001). The arithmetic mean of LBI and LSI was defined as the severity score. Detailed clinical evaluation was available in these patients and included 109 who had liver biopsy. A severity score in 27 normals was 102±5 (mean ±sd) with all values >85. The severity score correlated with hepatic fibrosis (r=−0.694;P<0.001) in 109 patients with benign liver disease who had recent biopsies and with the Child-Pugh classification (r=0.78;P<0.001) in 220 patients with CLD. Furthermore, 68/70 (97%) of patients with ascites, variceal bleeding, or death from hepatic failure had a severity score <85, and all patients with severity score <60 had one of these complications. All patients with liver failure had a severity score <60 and 67.7% with a score <40 died of hepatic failure. By contrast, 99.4% of patients with minimal liver disease had a severity score >80 and 96.5% a severity score >85. Mortality, the frequency of complications of CLD, and the degree of hepatic fibrosis were inversely related to the severity score. Thus, the data support the value of the LSS in detecting the perfused Kupffer cell mass and the potential for use of the LSS as a quantitative test of hepatic function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Liver Disease Program, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 101 The City Drive, 92668, Orange, California

    J. Hoefs MD, K. Chang MD, F. Wang MD, G. Kanel MD, T. Morgan MD & P. Braunstein MD

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  1. J. Hoefs MD
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  2. K. Chang MD
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  3. F. Wang MD
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  4. G. Kanel MD
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  5. T. Morgan MD
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  6. P. Braunstein MD
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Hoefs, J., Chang, K., Wang, F. et al. Perfused Kupffer cell mass. Digest Dis Sci 40, 552–560 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02064368

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02064368

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