Histopathological changes of organ dysfunction in sepsis

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a highly lethal disorder. Organ dysfunction in sepsis is not defined as a clinicopathological entity but rather by changes in clinical, physiological, or biochemical parameters. Pathogenesis and specific treatment of organ dysfunction in sepsis are unknown. The study of the histopathological correlate of organ dysfunction in sepsis will help understand its pathogenesis.

Methods: We searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and Scielo for original articles on kidney, brain, and liver dysfunction in human sepsis. A defined search strategy was designed, and pertinent articles that addressed the histopathological changes in sepsis were retrieved for review. Only studies considered relevant in the field were discussed.

Results: Studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) in sepsis reveal that acute tubular necrosis is less prevalent than other changes, indicating that kidney hypoperfusion is not the predominant pathogenetic mechanism of sepsis-induced AKI. Other more predominant histopathological changes are apoptosis, interstitial inflammation, and, to a lesser extent, thrombosis. Brain pathological findings include white matter hemorrhage and hypercoagulability, microabscess formation, central pontine myelinolysis, multifocal necrotizing leukoencephalopathy, metabolic changes, ischemic changes, and apoptosis. Liver pathology in sepsis includes steatosis, cholangiolitis and intrahepatic cholestasis, periportal inflammation, and apoptosis. There is no information on physiological or biochemical biomarkers of the histopathological findings.

Conclusions: Histopathological studies may provide important information for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction in sepsis and for the design of potentially effective therapies. There is a lack of clinically available biomarkers for the identification of organ dysfunction as defined by the histological analysis.

Keywords: Autopsy; Brain; Histopathology; Kidney; Light microscopy; Liver; Organ dysfunction; Sepsis; Septic shock.

Fig. 1

Kidney tissue sample from a patient with sepsis (light microscopy, HE, × 20). a Glomerular collapse is observed and signs of acute tubular necrosis. b Edema and glomerular and tubular congestion is seen

Fig. 2

Liver tissue sample from a patient with sepsis. a Signs of periportal inflammation are observed. b Signs of collangitis