Alcohol Hepatitis Flashcards
define alcoholic hepatitis?
inflammatory liver injury caused by chronic heavy intake
what are the 3 forms of liver disease caused by excessive alcohol intake?
alcoholic fatty liver ( steatosis)
alcoholic hepatitis
chronic cirrhosis
what are the histopathological features of alcohol hepatitis?
centrilobular ballooning degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes steatosis
fatty change neutrophillic
inflammation cholestasis- condition in which bile cannot flow from liver to duodenum mallor
hyaline inclusions ( eosinophilic intracytoplasmic aggregates of cytokeratin) giant mitochondria
summarise the epidemiology of alcoholic hepatitis?
occurs in 10-35% of heavy drinkers
patients with Hep C have more severe symptoms
what are the presenting symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis?
may remain asympyomatic and undetected
may be mild illness symptoms
- nausea
- malaise
- epigastric pain
- right hypochondrial pain
- low grade fever
sever presenting symptoms
- jaundice
- abdominal discomfort or swelling
- swollen
- GI bleeding-> Haematemesis + melaena
- long history of heavy drinking is required for the development of alcoholic hepatitis ( around 15-20 years)
What are the signs of alcoholic hepatitis on physical examination?
Signs of Alcohol Excess
- Malnourished => fatigue
- Palmar erythema
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Facial telangiectasia– red lines appear due to widened venules
- Parotid enlargement
- Spider naevi
- Gynaecomastia
- Testicular atrophy
- Hepatomegaly
- Easy bruising
Signs of Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Febrile (in 50% of patients)
- Tachycardia
- Jaundice
- Bruising
- Encephalopathy(e.g. liver flap, drowsiness, disorientation) – caused by build up of ammonia in blood (which is normally removed by the liver) – crosses blood-brain barrier
- Ascites
- Hepatomegaly
what are the appropriate investihations for alcoholic hepatitis?
FBC
LFTs
U and E
ultrasound- check for liver impairment ( malignancy)
What can be seen in a full blood count for alcoholic hepatitis?
low hb High MCV High WCC Low plate
what is encephalopathy in alcoholic hepatitis caused by?
liver flap, drowsiness, disorientaiton-> caused by build up of ammonia in blood ( which is normally removed by liver)- crosses blood-brain barrier
What will LFTs look like in alcoholic hepatitis?
High AST + ALT – ratio if AST/ALT is >2% (if ALT>AST then it may suggest viral hepatitis or NASH)
High bilirubin
High ALP + GGT
Low albumin
describe U and E in alcoholic hepatitis?
Urea and K+ tend to be low
what happens to clotting in alcoholic hepatitis?
prolonged PT->sensitive marker for significant liver damage
What investigations should you consider?
- Upper GI Endoscopy - investigate varices
- Serum antibodies (e.g. AMA, ANA, ASMA) to rule out AI hepatitis
- Viral hepatitis serology may be conducted to rule it out
- Liver Biopsy - can help distinguish from other causes of hepatitis
- EEG - slow-wave activity indicates encephalopathy
- CT/MRI abdomen – may show hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites, portal vein engorgement
outline a management plant for alcoholic hepatitis?
Acute
- Thiamine
- Vitamin C and other multivitamins(can be given as Pabrinex)
- Monitor and correct K+, Mg2+ and glucose
- Ensure adequate urine output
- Treat encephalopathy with oral lactulose or phosphate enemas – decrease ammonia generation by bacteria
- Ascites - manage with diuretics(spironolactone with/without furosemide)
- Therapeutic paracentesis(removing fluid)
- Glypressin and N-acetylcysteine for hepatorenal syndrome
Nutrition
- Alcohol abstinence and alcohol withdrawal
- Via oral or NG feedingis important
- Protein restriction should be avoided unless the patient is encephalopathic
- For the ascites => Na restricted diet(when progresses –> diuretics also added)
- Nutritional supplementation and vitamins (B group, thiamine and folic acid) should be started parenterally initially, and continued orally
Imms – Influenza, pneumococcal, hep all recommended
Steroid Therapy (e.g. prednisolone)- reduce short-term mortality for severe alcoholic hepatitis
summatise the prognosis for patients with alcohol hepatitis?
Mortality:
- First month = 10%
- First year = 40%
If alcohol intake continues, most will progress to cirrhosis within 1-3 years
To calculate prognostic score can use Maddrey’s discriminant function or Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score
describe oesophageal varices as a complication of alcoholic hepatitis and how this is managed?
○ Macrocytic Anaemia, low plts, high GGT/bili, low albumin
○ Found in lower 1/3rd of oesophagus
- Terlipressin + AB (cefuroxime or ciprofloxacin should always be given as variceal bleeding is associated with a high risk of infection)
- Band ligation/ injection sclerotherapy
- Non-cardioselective beta-blokers are the first line treatment of prevention of variceal bleeding. Where a beta-blocker is not tolerated or if there is a singificant contra-indication to their usage, then regular endoscopy with variceal band ligation would be the second-line managment.
○ If above don’t work and still haematemesis then Sengstaken tube and /or TIPS is considered
Band ligation or sclerotherapy is used to eliminate the oesophageal varies to prevent further bleeding. IV Terlipressin reduces portal venous pressure and is usually given for at least 3 days after banding.
