Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS): A light and electron microscopy study in human liver

C. Vreuls*, A. Driessen, Steven Olde Damink, Ger Koek, H. Duimel, M.A. van den Broek, C.H.C. Dejong, F. Braet, Eddie Wisse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

AIMS: Oxaliplatin is an important chemotherapeutic agent, used in the treatment of hepatic colorectal metastases, and known to induce the sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). Pathophysiological knowledge concerning SOS is based on a rat model. Therefore, the aim was to perform a comprehensive study of the features of human SOS, using both light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). METHODS AND RESULTS: Included were all patients of whom wedge liver biopsies were collected during a partial hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases, in a 4-year period. The wedge biopsy were perfusion fixated and processed for LM and EM. The SOS lesions were selected by LM and details were studied using EM. Material was available of 30 patients, of whom 28 patients received neo-adjuvant oxaliplatin. Eighteen (64%) of the 28 patients showed SOS lesions, based on microscopy. The lesions consisted of sinusoidal endothelial cell detachment from the space of Disse on EM. In the enlarged space of Disse a variable amount of erythrocytes were located. CONCLUSION: Sinusoidal endothelial cell detachment was present in human SOS, accompanied by enlargement of the space of Disse and erythrocytes in this area. These findings, originally described in a rat model, were now for the first time confirmed in human livers under clinically relevant settings.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-22
Number of pages6
JournalMicron
Volume84
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2016

Keywords

  • Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome
  • Electron microscopy
  • Light microscopy
  • Liver
  • Human
  • Oxaliplatin
  • OXALIPLATIN-BASED CHEMOTHERAPY
  • VENOOCCLUSIVE DISEASE
  • PREOPERATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
  • COLORECTAL-CANCER
  • METASTASES
  • HEPATECTOMY
  • LESIONS
  • RAT

Cite this