Acute Liver Disease

Question 1

Define Acute Liver Disease?

Answer 1

Rapid development of hepatic dysfunction without prior liver disease

Question 2

What is a common characteristic of ALD patients?

Answer 2

immunosuppressed

Question 3

Name the Liver Function Tests:

Answer 3

ALT/AST, ALP, GGT, Bilirubin

Question 4

Name the True Liver Function Tests:

Answer 4

Bilirubin, Albumin, Prothrombin time

Question 5

What does ALD cause?

Answer 5

encephalopathy

prolonged coagulation time

Question 6

What can 4g of paracetemol over 2 weeks in a healthy person do?

Answer 6

raise their LFTs

Question 7

Describe Toxoplasmosis?

Answer 7

occurs in immunocompromised and travellers

(from the Toxoplasmagondii parasite, infection usually occurs by eating undercooked contaminated meat, exposure from infected cat feaces, or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy)

Question 8

What are the standard investigations for ALD?

Answer 8

LFTs (Albumin and Bilirubin – if prothrombin is normal then not life of death)
Ultrasound including vascular
Virology
Liver biopsy (RARE)

Question 9

What are the treatments for ALD?

Answer 9

For itch (colestryamine, uresodeoxycholic acid, sodium bicarbonate bath)
High calories (35-40kcal/kg/day)
sometimes NG tube
Fluids
NO alcohol
Rest – often suffer from chronic fatigue

Question 10

Paracetemol is conjugated then broken down into which toxic substance?

Answer 10

NAPQI