The significance of nonobstructive sinusoidal dilatation of the liver: Impaired portal perfusion or inflammatory reaction syndrome

Abstract

Sinusoidal dilatation found in the absence of an impaired sinusoidal blood outflow has been so far of unclear significance. Sinusoidal dilatation may actually be a nonspecific feature of impaired portal venous blood inflow, whatever the cause, or a feature of severe systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome, whatever the cause. Sinusoidal dilatation is mainly located in the centrilobular area even in the absence of an outflow block. A predominantly periportal location is specifically found in oral contraceptive users, associated with an inflammatory condition. There is strong evidence for the association of sinusoidal dilatation and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy but not for estroprogestative steroids or thiopurine derivatives. Exposure to anabolic androgen steroids appears to cause sinusoidal changes different from a mere sinusoidal dilatation.

Conclusion: There is evidence of activation of the interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways in sinusoidal dilatation, but the mechanisms linking the activation of these pathways with the microvascular changes must be identified.