Abdo Flashcards
What signs of chronic liver disease may be visible on the hands?
Palmar erythema
Dupuytren’s contracture
Leuconychia
Clubbing
What disease may be indicated by a greyish skin colour?
Haemochromatosis
What signs must you look for to check for decompensation of chronic liver disease?
Ascites
Asterixis with ‘liver flap’
Encephalopathy
What are some causes of hepatomegaly?
Cirrhosis (alcoholic)
Carcinoma
Congestive cardiac failure
Infection eg Hep B or C
Immune eg PBC, PSC, AIH
Infiltrative eg amyloid or myeloproliferative disorders
What blood tests constitute a ‘liver screen?
Autoantibodies and immunoglobulins for PBC/PSC/AIH - ANA, anti smooth muscle, anti-mitochondrial
Hep B and Hep C serology
EBV and CMV serology
Ferritin
Caeruloplasmin
Alpha 1 antitrypsin
AFP for HCC
INR
Albumin
FBC, U&Es, LFTs, glucose
Aside from blood tests, what other investigations should be done in a liver screen?
Ulstrasound scan of abdomen
Tap of ascites if present
+/- ERCP/Biopsy
What are some complications of cirrhosis?
Variceal haemorrhage
Hepatic encephalopathy
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Hepatorenal syndrome
Hepatocellular carcinoma
What is the Child-Pugh classification and what does it predict?
Prognosis of classification in liver cirrhosis, based on bilirubin, INR, albumin, ascites and encephalopathy. Higher score relates to lower chance of survival at 1 year
What are the most common causes of chronic liver disease?
Alcoholic cirrhosis
Viral hepatitis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
How is chronic liver disease managed?
MDT approach
Abstain from alcohol
Vitamin and thiamine replacement
Optimise nutrition
Salt restriction
Diuretics if ascites
Propanolol if varices
Laxatives for encephalopathy prevention
+/- TIPS/transplantation
What is a TIPS procedure?
Transjugular intrahepatic portal shunt. Diverts blood from portal vein to hepatic vein to reduce portal hypertension
What are some common precipitants for decompensation of chronic liver disease?
Infection
GI bleed
Increased alcohol intake
Malignancy
Constipation
Dehydration
Hepatotoxic drugs
What are some abdominal causes for finger clubbing?
Hepatocellular carcinoma
IBD
Cirrhosis
Coeliac disease
What are some complications of haemochromatosis?
Diabetes
Hypogonadism
Congestive cardiac failure
Arthopathy secondary to pseudogout
What is the genetic basis of haemochromatosis?
Autosomal recessive with high incidence of heterozygous carriers