Changes

*** Some plant toxins will cause fatty change in the very early stages of poisoning.

*** Some plant toxins will cause fatty change in the very early stages of poisoning.

====Distribution of fatty change in the liver====

====Distribution of Fatty Change in the Liver====

 

The distribution of fatty change in the liver lobule tends to be throughout the whole lobule

* Fatty change in the liver tends to be throughout the whole lobule.

but occasionally there is a preferential localisation which may give some clue to inciting

* Occasionally there is a preferential localiasation -  this may give some clue as to the inciting cause.

cause.

** E.g. in chronic venous congestion

Chronic venous congestion in the liver due to a failing heart ( a cause of anoxia ) will also

*** Due to a failing heart (a cause of anoxia).

produce fatty change. In conjunction with the fatty change the pooling of the blood in the

*** Blood pools in the centrilobular area (due to ineffective blood flow back to the heart), as well as fatty change being induced.

centrilobular area due to ineffective flow back to the heart, gives a striking gross appearance

**** Gives a striking gross appearance - areas of yellow interspersed with red.

of areas of yellow interspersed with red, and this has been described as a 'nutmeg liver'.

***** Described as a 'nutmeg liver'.

The practical implication of this when found at post-mortem examination, is to examine the

*** When found post-mortem examination, indicated the heart should be examined for the cause.

heart for the cause.

====Significance of fatty change====

====Significance of fatty change====