13 - Hepatology Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver?
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What are some causes of unconjugated hyperbillirubinaemia and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia?
Unconjugated:
- Haemolytic disorders (e.g malaria)
- Drugs affecting liver (e.g paracetamol)
- Impaired conjugation (e.g Gilbert’s)
Conjugated
- Hepatocellular dysfunction (e.g viruses like hepatitis and CMV, liver metastases, a1-antitrypsin)
- Impaired hepatic secretion (e.g primary sclerosing cholangitis, CBD gallstones, Mirizzi syndrome)
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What are some drugs that cause drug induced jaundice?
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If a patient is jaundiced what investigations should you order?
- Liver screen (inc albumin and total protein)
- Paracetamol level
- Urine to check for billirubin in post-hepatic jaundice
- FBC, clotting, reticulocytes, malaria film, parasites, Coombs
- Blood cultures
- Hepatitis serology
- US of bile ducts
- Liver biopsy
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What is the definition of liver failure and what are some causes of this?
Development of coagulopathy (INR>1.5) and encephalopathy
If occurs in previously healthy liver it is acute liver failure, however more often occurs on top of cirrhosis so chronic liver failure
Causes: infections, drugs, toxins, vascular, alcohol, autoimmune conditions
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It is important to distinguish whether liver disease in a patient is acute or chronic. What questions should you ask the patient in the history to work this out?
- Any blood transfusions?
- Any IV drug use?
- Operations with dubious sterile procedures?
- Sexual exposure?
- Medications taken (prescribed/OTC)?
- FHx of liver disease, diabetes and IBD?
- Alcohol?
- Foreign travel?
- Obesity?
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What are some causes of acute liver failure?
- Drugs (e.g Paracetamol OD, halothane)
- Viral Hepatitis
- Amanita Phalloides mushroom
- Wilson’s disease
- Fatty liver of pregnancy
- Malignancy
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What are some signs of acute liver failure?
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Acute: jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, fetor hepaticus (sweet musty breath), asterix/flap, constructional apraxia
Chronicity: spider naevi, clubbing, ascites, palmar erythema
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What is hepatic encephalopathy and how is the severity of it graded?
Decline in brain function as a result of severe liver disease due to a build up of toxins in the blood stream
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What are some blood investigations you should do in suspected acute liver failure?
IMPORTANT
- FBC: often thrombocytopenia if liver fibrosis
- LFTs: ALT raised if hepatocytes damaged, ALP and gamma-GT raised if ducts damaged, albumin may be decreased
- Clotting: INR often increased
- Paracetamol Level
- TFTs, Lipids and Glucose
- Rest of liver screen: see image
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What other investigations should you order for a patient with acute liver failure after bloods?
- Blood and urine cultures
- Abdominal US of liver and pancreas
- CXR
- Doppler US of hepatic vein if Budd-Chiari suspected
What is included in an LFT panel?
Hepatocellular damage/Cholestasis:
- ALT
- ALP
- AST
- Gamma GT
Synthetic Function of Liver:
- Billirubin
- Albumin
- PT/INR
What are some causes of an isolated ALP increase (no gamma GT increase)?
- Metastases or primary bone tumours
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Recent bone fractures
- Renal osteodystrophy
What are some causes of an isolated rise of billirubin (no derangement of ALT/ALP)?
- Haemolysis
- Gilbert Syndrome
What are some causes of the following:
ALT>AST
AST>ALT
ALT - Acute
AST - Chronic
- Chronic liver disease
- Cirrhosis and Acute alcoholic hepatitis
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If an LFT panel shows a cholestatic abnormality, what test is carried out next?
Need to do an US to look for any obstructive jaundice, which would have dilatation of the bile ducts
What are some causes of hepatic and cholestatic derangement of LFTs?
Hepatic: ALT raised mostly
Cholestatic: ALP and gamma GT raised markedly and ALT/AST slightly raised
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What might you find on abdominal US with cirrhosis?
- Nodularity
- Coarse texture
- Splenomegaly
- Ascites
What is the immediate management of acute liver failure?
- Refer to critical care and nearest liver transplant unit as may need transplant
- Place urinary and central venous catheter to measure urine output hourly
- Treat the cause if known (e.g paracetamol poisoning) and complications
- 10% glucose IV 1L/12h to reduce risk of hypoglycaemia, check BM every 1-4h
- Avoid sedatives
- Haemodialysis if renal failure develops
- Provide nutritional support
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What are some of the complications of acute liver failure and how are they managed?
- Cerebral oedema
- GI Bleeding/Varices
- Encephalopathy
- Hypogylcaemia
- Sepsis
- Renal failure
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What is the criteria for predicting poor outcome with paracetamol induced acute liver failure?
King’s College Criteria
If fulfill these criteria should promptly consider transplant!!!!
(pH<7.3, signs of encephalopathy, INR 3, plasma creatinine >200)
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What are some of the signs and symptoms of paracetamol overdose? (>12g/24 tablets)
- Initially nothing
- Nausea/vomiting
- RUQ pain
- Jaundice
- Encephalopathy
- AKI
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What are some investgiations you should do for a patient coming in with paracetamol OD?
- Patient’s weight for treatment
- Paracetamol levels after 4h of ingestion and compare with treatment graph
- FBC and INR
- LFTs, U+Es, Phosphate
- VBG for pH, lactate, glucose, bicarbonate
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How is a paracetamol overdose managed initially?
<4hours since OD: activated charcoal
4 hours: take glucose, U+Es, LFT, INR, ABG, FBC, HCO3, paracetamol level
<10-12h after OD and paracetamol level over treatment line: 3 consecutive acetylcysteine IV infusions over 20 hours, checking paracetamol levels at end of 2nd infusion
>8-24h after OD and suspect large OD: acetylcysteine
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What are some adverse reactions to N-acetylcysteine and how can you treat this adverse reaction?
Adverse effects: Nausea, vomiting, flushing, urticarial rash, angioedema, tachycardia, bronchospasm
Treatment: stop infusion, give H1 antihistamine, give salbutamol neb if required, restart when reaction settled, give antiemetics prophylactically next time
How is paracetamol overdose managed after acetylcysteine administration?
- Next day do INR, U+Es, LFTs. Continue Acetylcysteine until INR<1.4
- Discuss with liver team and specialist liver unit guided by King’s college criteria
What is hepatorenal syndrome?
Progressive renal failure associated with cirrhosis or acute liver failure
Renal vasoconstriction leads to renal failure. Need liver transplant!
Can treat temporarily with TIPPS, terlipressin, haemodialysis
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What are some causes of chronic liver disease?
Eventually lead to cirrhosis:
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Viral hepatitis (Hep B and C)
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- PBC
- PSC
- Haemochromatosis
- Wilsons
- Antil LKM
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How does alcoholic liver disease progress?
- Fatty liver: reversible
- Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis: will show mallory bodies and neutrophil infiltrates on biopsy
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What are some signs of alcohol withdrawal?
Starts 10-72h after last drink:
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
- Tremor
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
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What medication should you give to a withdrawing alcoholic that is admitted as an inpatient?
- Chlordiazepoxide (benzodiazepine)
- Pabrinex or Oral Thiamine
How do you screen for unhealthy alcohol use quickly?
CAGE
- Ever felt you need to cut down on drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
- Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
- Ever had an eye-opener in the morning?
How may a patient with alcoholic hepatitis present and how may their bloods present?
Patient: malaise, raised RR/HR/Temp, anorexia, tender hepatomegaly, jaundice, bleeding, ascites, encephalopathy
Bloods: increased INR, thrombocytopenia, increased AST, raised MCV, raised WCC, raised urea
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What would indicate severe alcoholic hepatitis when looking at a patient?
- Jaundice
- Encephalopathy
- Bleeding
How should we manage alcoholic hepatitis?
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- Screen for infections and ascitic tap
- Stop alcohol consumption immediately and give chlordiazepoxide IV or lorazepam IM for withdrawals
- Vitamin K, Thiamine (or Pabrinex)
- Optimise nutrition
- Consider steroids if severe disease
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What score is used to assess mortality in alcoholic liver disease?
Maddrey Score
- Prothrombin time
- Billirubin
If Maddrey>31 and encephalopathy give prednisolone!!!
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What blood result can indicate hepatorenal syndrome developing?
Raising creatinine
What is NAFLD?
Increased fat in hepatocytes that cannot be attributed to other causes. Can be seen on US
Can progress to cirrhosis so need biopsy and elastography.
Raised ALT
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How is NAFLD managed?
- Control risk factors e.g bariatric surgery for obesity, control diabetes
- Address CVD risk
- Avoid alcohol
- Monitor for complications e.g cirrhosis, NASH, DM
- If cirrhotic screen for HCC with US and AFP twice yearly
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Apart from Hep B/Hep C, what are some other infective causes of hepatitis?
- EBV
- CMV
- Malaria
- Syphillis
- Yellow fever
What are the following for Hepatitis A:
- Spread
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Very rare to develop chronic infection!
- Incubation 2-6 weeks
- Can get immunised IM as a child
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What are the following for Hepatits B?
- Spread
- Symptoms
- Incubation
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What are some antigens/antibodies tested for in a Hepatitis B infection and what do they mean?
HBsAg: present first 1-6months after exposure
HBeAg: high infectivity, 1-3 months adter acute illness
HBcAb: implies past infection
HBsAb: implies vaccination if no core antibody found too
Can also do liver biopsy and US elastography to look for liver damage
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What does it mean if HbsAg persists for over 6 months?
Defines carrier status so chronic infection
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How is hepatitis B managed?
Aim is to clear HBsAg and prevent cirrhosis and HCC
- Avoid alcohol
- Immunise sexual contacts
- Fluids and pain relief for acute
- Refer for antivirals and peginterferon alfa 2-a if chronic liver inflammation or cirrhosis. Can consider liver transplant to
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What are some of the complications of hepatitis B?
- Acute liver failure
- Cirrhosis
- HCC
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- Membranous nephropathy
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If someone has had exposure to Hep B what is the management?
- Can give vaccine if not already vaccinated up to 12 hours after exposure
- Hep B serology
What are the following for hepatitis C:
- Spread
- Symptoms
- Risk factors for progression
Incubation of 6-8 weeks
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What investigations are done to diagnose Hep C?
- Anti-HCV confirms exposure
- HCV-PCR confirms ongoing infection
- Liver biopsy or US elastography if HCV-PCR positive to assess liver damage
- Raised LFTs
What are some complications of Hep C?
- Cirrhosis
- HCC
- Liver failure
- Glomerulonephritis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Polymyositis
How is Hep C managed?
- Avoid alcohol
- Start antivirals ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for 8-12 weeks
- Test for HIV and treat this as HIV increases rate of HCV induced liver cirrhosis
- Tell patient they can catch it again, there is no vaccine and no immunity from already having it
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What is hereditary haemochromotosis?
Autosomal recessive disorder where there is increased intestinal iron absorption so increased iron deposition in joints, liver, heart, pancreas, pituitary, adrenals and skin
How may a patient with hereditary haemochromatosis present?
Early: asymptomatic, tiredness, arthralgia
Late: slate-grey skin, signs of chronic liver disease, hepatomegaly, cirrhosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, bronze DM, hypogonadism, pituitary dysfunction
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What tests are done to diagnose herediary haemochromotosis?
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- Gold standard: HFE genotyping (hepcidin protein)
- Bloods: raised LFT, raised ferritin (also raised in inflammation), raised transferrin saturation
- Imaging: chondrocalcinosis, liver and cardiac MRI have Fe overload
- Liver biopsy: Perl’s stain shows iron loading
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How is hereditary haemochromatosis managed?
- Venesection every 2-3 months for life
- Desferrioxamine
- Monitor LFTs and glucose (HbA1c may be falsely low due to venesection)
- If cirrhotic screen for HCC with US and AFP twice yearly
- Avoid iron in diet and OTC vitamins
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What is the prognosis with hereditary haemochromotosis?
- If cirrhosis 30% chance of developing HCC
- With venesection life expectancy back to normal and can help improve cirrhosis
What is autoimmune hepatitis and who does it mainly affect?
Inflammatory autoimmune condition where T-cells and auto-antibodies direct against hepatocyte surface antigens
Usually affects women in bimodal distribution (10-30 and then >40)
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What is the typical presentation of autoimmune hepatitis?
- Acute hepatitis
- Features of autoimmune disease: fever, malaise, urticarial rash, polyarthritis, pleurisy, glomerulonephritis
- Gradual jaundice
- Asymptomatic
- Amennorhea
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How is autoimmune hepatitis investigated and diagnosed?
Ix
- LFTs: bilirubin, ALT, ALP, AST raised
- Hypergammaglobulinaemia: especially IgG
- Autoantibodies: ANA, p-ANCA, anti-LKM1, anti-SMA
- FBC: anaemia, low platlets, low WCC due to hypersplenism
- Liver biopsy: mononuclear infiltrate of portal areas, necrosis and fibrosis
- MRCP: helps exclude PSC
Dx: based on biopsy, autoantivodies and IgG levels.
What are the two different classifications of autoimmune hepatitis?
Class I: in 80% of patients, ASMA and ANA auto antibodies
Class II: commoner in younger patients, more chance of progressing to cirrhosis, LKM1 antibodies
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What are some diseases associated with autoimmune hepatitis?
- UC
- Pernicious anaemia
- Glomerulonephritis
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- DM
- HLA A1, B8, DR3
How is autoimmune hepatitis managed to try and slow the progression of cirrhosis?
- Immunosuppresion: Prednisolone to induce then Azathioprine for maintenance of remission
Liver transplantation: if decompensated liver cirrhosis or failed to respond to medical therapy
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What is primary biliary cholangitis?
Interlobular bile ducts are damaged by autoimmune granulotamous inflammation causing cholestasis which can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and portal hypertension
More common in women
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What are some signs and symptoms of PBC?
Symptoms: asymptomatic incidental ALP rise, lethargy, sleepiness
Signs: jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, xanthelasma, xanthoma, signs of cirrhosis
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What are some tests used to diagnose PBC?
Bloods: raised ALP and gamma GT, raised AST/ALT in late disease, decreased albumin, raised bilirubin
Autoantibodies: AMA
US: exclude extrahepatic cholestasis
Biopsy: look for granulomas around bile ducts and cirrhosis
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How is PBC treated?
Symptomatic:
- Colestyramine* for pruitis
- Codeine phosphate* for diarrhoea
- Osteoporosis prevention
Specific:
- Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, K)
- High dose ursodeoxycholic acid
- Liver transplant for late stage disease
How do we monitor PBC patients?
- Regular LFT
- US and AFP twice yearly if cirrhotic
What is primary sclerosing cholangitis?
Progressive cholestasis with bile duct inflammation and strictures.
Occurs in intra and extrahepatic ducts
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What are some of the signs and symptoms of PSC?
Usually in males and occurs with IBD
- Pruitis
- Ascending cholangitis
- Cirrhosis
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What cancers are PSC associated with?
- Colon
- Bile duct
- Gall bladder
- Liver
Do colonscopy and US yearly and consider cholecystectomy
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What tests are done to diagnose PSC?
Bloods: raised ALP and billirubin
Autoantibodies: ANA, SMA and ANCA positive but AMA -ve
MRCP or ERCP: beads on a string
Liver biopsy: fibrous obliterative cholangitis
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How is PSC treated?
- Definitive is liver transplant
- Ursodeoxycholic acid may improve LFT but no survival benefit
- Colestyramine for itch
- Abx for bacterial cholangitis
What is Wilson’s disease?
Autosomal recessive disorder of copper excretion with excess deposition in liver and CNS.
Treatable cause of cirrhosis so test everyone with cirrhosis for it
Due to the fact copper cannot be incorporated to caeruloplasmin so cannot be excreted into bile
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Where is copper absorbed in the body?
Small intestine
How does Wilson’s disease present?
- Liver disease: cirrhosis, failure
- CNS signs: tremor, dysarthria, parkinsonism, dystonias
- Mood: depression, labile emotions
- Cognition: decreased memory
- Kayser Fleischer rings: in iris
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What tests are done to diagnose Wilson’s disease?
- Urine 24h copper excretion: raised
- LFTs: raised
- Serum Cu
- Serum caeruloplasmin: lowered
- Molecular genetic testing
- Liver biopsy
- MRI: look at basal ganglia
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How is Wilson’s disease treated?
- Diet: avoid food high in copper e.g liver, chocolate, mushrooms, shellfish
- Lifelong penicilllamine: chelating agent, will reverse cirrhosis
- Screen siblings
- Liver transplant if severe liver disease
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What is cirrhosis and what are some of the causes of this? (bold is most common)
Irreversible liver damage, nodular regeneration surrounded by bands of fibrosis
- Infective (HBV, HCV)
- Autoimmune
- Metabolic disorders
- Alcohol/Drugs
- NAFLD
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When should you suspect cirrhosis?
In patients with thrombocytopenia or clinical stigmata of chronic liver disease
What are some of the signs a patient may display with cirrhosis?
- Jaundice
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Leuconychia
- Clubbing
- Palmar erythrema
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Spider naevi
- Gynacoemastia
- Ascites
- Testicular atrophy
- Parotid swelling
- Asterixs/Hepatic flap
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What are some complications of cirrhosis?
- Hepatic failure: coagulopathy, encephalopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, sepsis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hypoglycaemia
- Portal hypertension: ascites, splenomegaly, oesophageal varices, caput medusa
- HCC
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What are some tests you should do when you suspect liver cirrhosis?
- Bloods: LFTs, FBC (platelets and WCC may drop)
- Autoantibodies: help find cause
- Viral serology: help find cause
- Caeruloplasmin and a1-antitrypsin levels
- FIBROSCAN US: liver may be small
- MRI
- Ascitic tap: urgent MC+S to look for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Liver biopsy: CONFIRM DIAGNOSIS
How is cirrhosis diagnosed?
- History
- Exam
- Bloods
- USS: Course texture, nodular, splenomegally, ascites, enlarged caudate lobe.
- Fibroscan
- Liver biopsy
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If a patient has an endoscopy and is found to have varices, what is this diagnostic of?
Cirrhosis
What should you screen all patients with cirrhosis for?
- Varices to detect for primary prophylaxis to lower bleeding risk
- If ascites do ascitic tap for cell count and MC+S to check for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Check AFP and US twice yearly for HCC
- Long term do DEXA scan for osteoporosis
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How do you treat cirrhosis in general?
TREAT UNDERLYING DISEASE e.g penicillamine for Wilson’s
- Good nutrition
- Avoid alcohol, NSAIDs, sedatives and opiates
- Colestyramine for itching
- US and AFP twice yearly for HCC
- Definitive: liver transplant
How are the following cirrhotic complications managed:
- Ascites
- Encephalopathy
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Ascites
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- Fluid restrict and low salt diet*
- Spironolactone*
- If tense do therapeutic paracentesis with albumin infusion
- Take daily weight
Encephalopathy
- Prophylactic lactulose
SBP
- Consider if ascites and patient deteriorating quickly
- Commonly due to E.Coli and Klebsiella
- Piperacillin with tazobactam*
What are some poor prognostic indicators with cirrhosis?
- Encephalopathy
- Na<110
- Serum albumin <25
- Raised INR
What are some indications for liver transplantation (both acute and chronic)?
Acute: King’s college criteria
Chronic: advanced cirrhosis of any cause, HCC with 1 nodule<5cm or <5nodules <3cm
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What are some contraindications for liver transplantation?
- Extrahepatic malignancy
- Severe cardiorespiratory disease
- Systemic sepsis
- Continued alcohol use
- Unlikely to comply with drugs
How do we prioritise which patients get a liver transplant first?
UKELD score
Predicts mortality in end stage liver disease
Looks at: INR, Billirubin, Sodium and Creatinine
Can also look at Child Pugh and MELD score
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What are the biggest issues cirrhosis causes and what factors can cause the cirrhosis to decompensated?
Issues: jaundice, encephalopathy, ascites
Factors: dehydration, constipation, alcohol use, infection, opiate overuse, GI bleed SO AVOID THESE
Cirrhosis causes portal hypertension. What are some signs of this?
- Ascites
- Encephalopathy
- Caput Medusa
- Varices
DIAGNOSE BY ENDOSCOPICALLY LOOKING FOR VARCIES OR LOOK FOR ASCITES
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How can portal hypertension be managed?
- Avoid alcohol
- Endoscopic sclerotherapy or banding for varices
- Salt restrict
- TIPPS or DSRS
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What veins do oesophageal varices form between?
Azygous and Short gastric veins
(don’t forget varices at rectal and umbilical areas)
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What are the reasons for malnutrition in chronic liver disease?
Impaired intake
- Lack of appetite and early sateity due to ascites. Liquid calories. Not wanting to eat due to oesophagitis
- Offer other ways of nutrition e.g NG
Impaired nutrient storage and synthesis
- Liver cannot store and synthesise micronutrients like water soluble vitamins. Thiamine deficiency
- Give Pabrinex or Oral thiamine
Impaired absorption
- Due to portal hypertension
What clinical guideline would you use to determine specific treatment for paracetamol overdose?
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TOXBASE - use the normogram provided!
- 3 consecutive acetyl cysteine infusions over 20 hours if paracetamol levels over treatment line. Efficacy decreases after 8 hours.
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How does acetly cysteine help with paracetamol OD?
It helps to replenish glutathione which helps to conjugate NAPQI to safe molecules that can be excreted
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How do you conduct a MMSE?
- Orientation
- Attention and Calculation
- Recall
- Language
- Copying
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What investigations should you do for a patient admitted with a paracetamol overdose?
- Patient’s weight for treatment
- Paracetamol levels after 4h of ingestion and compare with treatment graph
- FBC and INR
- LFTs, U+Es, Phosphate
- VBG for pH, lactate, glucose, bicarbonate
What is needed before a safe discharge following a paracetamol OD?
- Psychiatric risk assessment
- Paracetamol levels below threshold
- LFTs returning to normal
How is malnutrition best managed?
- High calorie and fortified foods
- Nutritional supplements
- Support with eating e.g someone feeding, teeth in
- Treating any underlying conditions causing malnutrition e.g IBD
- Feeding tubes