Acute and chronic liver diseases Flashcards
what is acute liver failure?
a rapid decline in hepatic function characterised by jaundice, coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with no evidence of prior liver disease
what are the causes of acute liver failure?
Paracetamol OD Infections e.g viral hep, yellow fever, leptospirosis Primary bilary cirrhosis Haemachromatosis and Wilsons HELLP syndrome from pre-eclampsia
what is the classification of acute liver failure?
Hyperacute if < 7 days
Acute if 8-28 days
Subacute if 29 days to 12 weeks
what are the S&S of acute liver failure?
Jaundice hepatic encephalopathy abdo pain N&V malaise hepatomegaly (viral infection) fetor hepaticus
what investigations should be done in acute liver failure?
LFTs
- Hyperbilirubinaemia
- Elevated liver enzymes (in 1000s for paracetamol OD)
Coag screen + G&S
- prolonged clotting
- increased INR
U&E’s
- elevated urea and creatinine (RF common complication)
- metabolic derrangements
FBC
- anaemia and thrombocytopenia
- leucocytosis in infection
ABG and lactate
- metabolic acidosis in paracetamol OD
- elevated lactate
Paracetamol level
Urine toxicology
Liver screen
what is the treatment of acute liver failure?
ICU management
- mandatory when encephalopathy present
- 20 degree head up tilt
- intubate, NG, IV fluids, catheter
Liver transplant assessment
what is the treatment for paracetamol induced acute liver failure?
acetylcystiene 140mg/kg orally as loading dose then 70mg/kg every 4 hours after
150mg/kg IV over 60 mins then 12.5mg/kg/hr after
how should autoimmune hepatitis induced acute liver failure be treated?
methylprednisolone
what are the complications of acute liver failure?
Cerebral oedema - 20 degree head tilt
Ascites
Renal failure
coagulopathy and bleeding
encephalopathy
what receptors does alcohol work on?
GABA type A leading to downregulation
alcohol withdrawal typically occurs 6-12 hours after cessation of alcohol consumption. What are the S&S?
agitation sweating tremor delirium seizures hallucinations N&V
what type of seizures are seen in alcohol withdrawal?
Generalised tonic clonic
what investigations should be carried out in suspected alcohol withdrawal?
Calculate GMAWS
- looks at tremor, sweating, hallucination, agitation and orientation (TASHO)
VBG
- can see respiratory alkalosis in DT
- metabolic acidosis with hypochloraemia may occur because of vomiting
- MA with high anion Gap can also occur if alcoholic ketoacidosis present
FBC
- increased MCV in chronic alcohol use
- thrombocytopenia
U&E’s
- low in any electrolytes due to poor nutrition
LFTs
- elevated enzymes
- AST:ALT of >2:1 in alcoholic liver disease
- GGT >10x norm
what is the treatment of alcohol withdrawal?
Manage in quiet room with low lighting and minimal stimulation
Rehydrate
Correct electrolyte abnormalities
Benzodiazepine, usually diazepam 10-20mg
thiamine replacement usually via pabrinex
What are the three stages of alcoholic liver disease?
steatosis
alcoholic hepatitis
alcoholic liver cirrhosis
what the S&S of alcoholic liver disease?
RUQ pain hepatomegaly palmar erythema jaundice splenomegaly caput medusae
what are the investigations and findings for ALD?
LFTs and liver tests
- AST:ALT >2:1
- alk phos may be elevated
- GGT elevated
- bilirubin elevated
- albumin low
FBC
- anaemia, thrombocytopenia, high MCV and possible leucocytosis
U&E’s and coag
- electrolyte deficiencies
- increased clotting time
Hepatic US
- hepatomegaly, fatty liver, cirrohosis, liver mass, evidence of portal HTN