Abdo Flashcards
Which immunosuppressant causes gingival hyperplasia and which causes a tremor?
Tremor = tacrolimus
Gingival hyperplasia = Ciclosporin
If these are present - say in ix you want to check serum levels of these agents to check for toxicity
What are all the different types of surgical abdo scars and what do they mean?
What ix should you do in a liver transplant pt?
What are the possible complications of organ transplants?
Differentials for CLD?
3 most common causes of CLD
1. Alcohol-induced liver disease
2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
3. Viral Hepatitis (Hep B and C)
Rarer causes include
4. Genetic: HH
5. AI: Autoimmune hepatitis
6. Drug induced: methotrexate
Causes of Jaundice?
Ix for Chronic liver disease?
Beside:
1. Basic Obs - looking for tachycardia, hypotension
Bloods:
1. FBC & inflammatory markers - Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
2. LFTs - Bilirubin, liver enzymes, albumin
3. INR - As a measure of LIVER SYNTHETIC FUNCTION
4. Hepatitis screen - Looking for viral and autoimmune hepatitis
5. U&E - Hepatorenal syndrome
Imaging
US of abdomen to check for
- Ascites
- Portal vein/hepatic vein thrombosis
- Any focal lesions in liver
Special Tests:
1. Liver biopsy
2. OGD
a. Look for varices
Signs of CLD decompensation?
● Jaundice
● Ascites 🡪 SBP
● Encephalopathy
● Upper GI bleed (varices)
Alcohol
(Bacterial) infection e.g. hepatitis, pneumonia
Constipation = most common cause
Drug-induced e.g.
a. Statins
b. Nicotinic acid
c. Amiodarone
d. Methotrexate
Complications of CLD?
● Portal hypertension
o Ascites
o Hypersplenism
o Oesophageal and rectal varices
● Synthetic dysfunction
o Hypoalbuminaemia
o Coagulopathy
● Hepatopulmonary syndrome
● Hepatorenal syndrome
● Encephalopathy
● HCC
Mx of CLD?
Conservative Mx to slow down progression
● MDT: GP, hepatologist, dietician
● Alcohol abstinence = most important
● Good nutrition
● Cholestyramine for pruritis
● Screening:
o HCC: US & AFP
o Varices: OGD
Diagnostic criteria for hepatorenal syndrome + tx?
Diagnostic criteria
▪ Creatine > 133
▪ Cirrhosis with ascites
▪ No evidence of intrinsic renal disease
Tx with IV albumin + terlipressin
What are some causes of smooth hepatomegaly?
o Hepatitis
▪ Alcohol
▪ Viral
▪ NAFLD
o CLD
o Cardiac disease e.g. CCF, cor pulmonale, TR
o Budd-Chiari syndrome
▪ Also see ascites & jaundice
▪ US with Doppler flow of hepatic vein shows thrombus (gold
standard diagnostic Ix)
o Sarcoidosis
▪ Liver granulomas
o Amyloidosis
▪ Due to excessive serum amyloid A secretion in chronic
conditions
▪ Secondary amyloidosis (AA) + renal failure
▪ AL amyloid + Macroglossia, CCF, peripheral neuropathy, carpal
tunnel
What are some causes of irregular hepatomegaly?
Malignancy (1 or 2O)
o Benign lesions e.g. haemangioma, hepatic adenoma
o Normal anatomical variant
o Carcinoid syndrome
Hepatomegaly + lots of strokes = suggestive of what disease?
Amyloidosis - would also get nephrotic syndrome
Budd Chiari syndrome - Occulision of hepatic vein - primary due to thrombosis or secondary due to compression eg due to tumour
Causes of Ascites?
Portal hypertension (portal pressure > 10mmHg)
Pre-hepatic
● Nephrotic syndrome
● PV, ET
Hepatic = most common
● Cirrhosis (alcohol, viral, NAFLD)
Post-hepatic
● Cardiac
RHF
TR
● Budd-Chiari
Non-portal hypertension causes
▪ Intra-abdominal malignancy e.g. ovarian, gastric cancer
▪ Infection e.g. TB peritonitis
Mx of Ascites?
Conservative: Fluid and salt restrict
Medical: Spironolactone
Surgical: For drug-resistant ascites:
▪ Serial paracentesis
▪ TIPSS (Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt)
Ix of ascites?
Diagnostic tap = KEY INVESTIGATION
Ask for:
Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) = serum albumin –
ascites albumin
● SAAG >1.1g/dL = portal HTN
● SAAG < 1.1g/dL = non-portal HTN
Cell count
▪ Neutrophils = bacterial peritonitis - > 250 = SBP
Cytology
▪ For malignant cells
Mx of PBC?
● Cholestasis: URSO (delays progression to cirrhosis)
● Pruritis: Cholestyramine - severe pruritis is indication for liver transplantation
● Hypercholesterolaemia: statin
● Osteoporosis: Calcium supplements & bisphosphonates
● Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency: Vit supplements