#7 Hepatobilary System Flashcards
What is alcoholic liver disease (ALD)
Fatty deposition resulting from alcohol consumption contributes to ALD, which can progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis and finally to alcoholic cirrhosis.
Is reversible in the early stages
What is alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC)
most common cause of liver cirrhosis is hepatitis C and alcoholism.
also impairs the hepatocytes ability to metabolise and remove a range of potentially harmful substances from the bloodstream
CM of ALC
ascites (fluid in abdomen), GI haemorrhage, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy and oesophageal varices.
Viral Hepatitis ?
infection of the liver cause by a strain of viral hepatitis
How is Hep A acquired and CM ?
from ingesting contaminated food and manifests with fever, abdominal pain and jaundice and does not result in fulminant liver failure.
Complications of viral hepatitis
causes hepatic cell necrosis, Kupffer cell hyperplasia and infiltration of liver tissue by mononuclear phagocytes.
Viral hepatitis CM ??
STAGE 1: Fever, Malaise, anorexia, liver enlargement, tenderness characterise the pre-icteric phase
STAGE 2: Jaundice and hyperbilirubinaemia mark the icteric phase
STAGE 3 (recovery): symptoms resolve
Chronic Hepatitis ?
a complication of hep b or hep c virus. it causes widespread hepatic necrosis and is often fatal. hepatitis predisposes patients to metastatic invasion of the liver and this is more common then the primary cancer of the liver
Portal Hypertension ?
The most serious complication of liver disease because it can cause potentially fatal complications, including bleeding varices, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy
Ascites
accumulation and sequestration of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, often as a result of portal hypertension and decreased concentrations of plasma proteins. Patients with ascites present with grossly distended abdomens.
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Impaired cerebral function caused by blood-borne toxins (usually ammonia) not being metabolised by the liver.
