Alcohol, liver disease, drugs Flashcards
Cells in the liver
Hepatocytes - 70-80% of mass
Space of DIsse:
Stellate cells 0 store vit A
Kupffer cells - macophages metbaolise dead RBC + debris
Blood supply to liver
Hepatic artery 10%
Portal vein 90%
Dual
Leaves via hepatic vein -> IVC
What can cause steatosis/ fatty liver disease?
Alcoholic liver disease
NAFLD - metabolic syndrome
eg obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia
Causes of NAFLD
Drugs-corticosteroids, oestrogen, amoxicillin, Nifedipine, Diltiazem
Viral hepatitis-hepatitis C virus
Nutritional disorders-total parenteral nutrition (TPN), postsurgical ( gastric bypass, jejunoileal bypass, small bowel resections)
Systemic disorders-inflammatory bowel disease, febrile illnesses, heatstroke
Non-insulin related metabolic disorders-Wilson’s disease, Galactosemia, tyrosinaemia
Other-Small bowel diverticulosis with bacterial overgrowth
What happens in steatohepatitis?
Histologically ballooned hepatocytes- essential finding-indicative of microtubular disruption
*may contain Mallory-Denk bodies (cytoskeletal aggregates. p62 immunohistochemistry
*Necroinflammation-Lobular inflammation-lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils
*Hepatic fibrosis-characteristic early fibrosis that is perivenular/pericellular
Definition of cirrhosis
Bridging fibrous septa – portal- portal
Parenchymal nodule formation
Disruption of the architecture of the entire liver – diffuse changes involving the whole liver
Stages cirrhosis development
Fatty liver disease
Liver fibrosis - scar tissue forms
Cirrhosis - scar tissue liver hard and unable to function
Causes of cirrhosis in developed countries
Top 3:
Alocholic liver disease
NAFLD
Chronic viral hepatitis hep B or C
Other causes:
Haemochromatosis
Autoimmune hepatitis
Primary and secondary biliary cirrhosis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Medications (eg, methotrexate, isoniazid)
Wilson disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Celiac disease
Idiopathic adulthood ductopenia
Granulomatous liver disease
Idiopathic portal fibrosis
Polycystic liver disease
Infection (eg, brucellosis, syphilis, echinococcosis)
Right-sided heart failure
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Veno-occlusive disease
Signs of cirrhosis
Portal hypertnesion
Synthetic dysfunction
Hepatorenal syndrome
Hepatopulmonary syndrome
Encephalopathy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Signs of portal hypertension
Ascites
Hypersplenism
Oesophageal varices
Synthetic dysfuntion of the liver signs
Coagulopathy
Hypoalbuminaemia
How is acute liver failure defined?
development of severe acute liver injury with encephalopathy and impaired synthetic function (INR of ≥1.5) in a patient without cirrhosis or preexisting liver disease
What can cause acute liver failure?
fulminant hepatic failure, acute hepatic necrosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, and fulminant hepatitis
How long does liver failure have to occur for to be chronic?
<26 weeks
Cardinal symptoms of liver disease
Jaundice
Encephalopathy
Oedema
Abdo paun
Ascites
Pruritis
Dark urine, pale faeces
N+V, decreased appetitie
Bruises easily
Chronic fatigue
Functions of liver
Glucose storage
IMmune factors and filters bacteria
Drug and nutrient metabolism
Clears nitrogenous waste
Iron storage
Produces bile
Protein production and clotting factors
What alvumin lvel indicates chronic liver disease?
<30g/L
% of men and women who exceed recommended units a week?
31% men
16% women
How does SE status affect alcohol?
Intake is the same
Lower SE more likely to experience physical and psychological impact as a consequence of drinking
Harmful physical effects of alcohol
Acute poisonning
Most comon cause of chronic hepatitis - abdo pain and steatorrhea
Aspiration pneumonia
Mallory Weiss syndrome
Oesophagitis
Gastritis
Pancreatitis
Malabsorption and refeeding
HPTN
Cardiomyopthaty
Strokes
Seizures and DTs
Liver damage
Brain damage
Peripheral neuropathy
Myopathy
Osteoporosis
Skin disorders
Malignancies
Sexual dysfunction
Infertility
Foetal damage
Withdrawal syndrome
Psychological effects of alcohol
INsomina
Depression
Suicide/attempted
Anxiety states
Personality change
Psychotic illness
Alcoholic hallucinosis
Morbid jealousy
Amnesia
Delerium tremensn
What is 1 unit of alcohol uk?
8g
(ml x alcohol %) / 1000
What is a harmful levle of drinking?
> 50U for men
35 for women
How is hazardous drinking defined?
Pattern of alcohol increases someones risk of hamr
Physical/mental health, social consequences
Between 14 and 35 0r 50 units /week
What is harmful drinking?
Level or pattern drinking causing damage to persons physical or mental heath
Includes dependece syndrome
Acute or chronic
What is low risk drinking?
<14 units over 3 or more days
What are the features of dependent drinking?
Strong desire or compulsion to drink
Difficulties in controlling drinking
Physiological withdrawal syndrome
Evidence of tolerance
Neglect of other pursuiits because of time spent drinking or recovering from drinking
Persisting with drinking behaviour despite clear evidence of harm
3+ features over previous year
Physiological withdrawal syndrome
(tremor, sweating, anxiety, N+V, agitation, insomnia)
How to detect problem drinkers
Ask routinely at GP
FAST screening tool
How often do you have more than 8 units men 6 units women or more on one occasion?
How often in last year have you not been able to remember what happened when drinking the night before?
Hoe often in last year have you failed to do what was expected of you because of drinking?
In the last year has a relative/friend/doctor/health worker been concerned about your drinking or advised you to cut down?
0-4 for each one
4 = daily
0 = never
What score indicates harmful or hazardous drinking in fast?
> 3
What is GGT? What does elevated levels mean?
Enzyme in liver
Damage to liver -> leaks into blood
eg liver disease or bile duct damage
What use to assess alcohol level in A+E?
Blood alcohol level
What is acute intoxication?
Transient condition after intake psychoactive substance -> conscioussness, cognition, perception, affect or behaviour
What is dependence?
> 2 of:
Control (powerlessness) (onset, intensity, duration, termination, frequency, context)
Precedence (BPS model)
Physiological (tolerance, withdrawal use to prevent/alleviate)
For >12 months (or 3 months if continious)