Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency: a histopathologic study of 10 cases / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnostic value of histopathological changes in the liver of patients with neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liver specimens from 10 cases of NICCD were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin stain, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry (EnVision method). SLC25A13 mutation analysis was performed to correlate with histopathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most specimens showed varying degrees of fat deposition in hepatocytes, necrotic inflammation, cholestasis and fibrosis (so-called tetralogy). The combination of the above four histological changes was highly characteristic for NICCD. With the progression of the disease, hepatic fibrosis deteriorated and ultimately led to cirrhosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NICCD should be suspected in the presence of cholestasis during infancy. A liver biopsy must be performed to rule out other liver diseases. The tetralogy of the hepatic histopathological changes has a highly diagnostic value for NICCD, which is also practical for accurately assessing the degree of inflammation and fibrosis, and similarly the progression of hepatic cirrhosis.</p>