Alcohol Misuse Flashcards
What are reasons for hospitalisation due to alcohol?
Injury Mental health and behavioural disorders Heart conditions/stroke Liver disease/pancreatitis Cancer
What are the functions of the liver?
Carb metabolism (glycogenesis/glycogenolysis)
Fat metabolism
Protein metabolism (deamination/transamination) & production of albumin
Storage of glucose, iron, copper, vitamins
Synthesis of fibrinogen and thrombopoetin
Production of bile
Metabolism of drugs and alcohol
What does thrombopoetin do?
Stimulate production of platelets in the bone marrow
What are Kupffer cells?
Specialised macrophages in the liver
How does the body process alcohol?
Alcohol absorbed in mouth, oesophagus, stomach, intestines
At liver, alcohol dehydrogenase breaks ethanol into acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyde broken down by aldehyde dehydrogenase into acetate
Acetate broken down into fatty acids, CO2 and water
How long does it take for a healthy liver to process 1 unit of alcohol?
1 hour
What happens in chronic consumption of alcohol?
Deposition of triglycerides in liver –> fatty liver disease
Inappropriate activation of stellate cells which produce collagen –> fibrosis and scar tissue
What is the recommended drinking allowance?
No more than 14 units spread over >3 days
Consuming >100 units/wk does what?
Puts you at 20% risk of developing serious liver disease
What are the majority of deaths due to alcohol due to?
Cirrhosis
What is the progression of alcohol related liver disease?
Normal liver –> steatosis –> hepatosteatosis –> fibrosis –> cirrhosis
Steatosis is reversible!
Why does alcohol consumption lead to steatosis?
Alcohol is calorie rich and fatty acids are produced from its metabolism - these are deposited around the CENTRAL vein and then the parenchyma
What are indicators of chronic alcohol use?
Elevated gamma GT Macrocytosis (enlarged RBCs) Low platelets Elevated ferritin Enlarged, smooth edged liver on AUSS
What changes occur to the liver in alcoholic hepatitis?
Infiltration of liver with leucocytes and necrosis
What are the symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis?
Hepatomegaly, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, hepatic decompression
What can you use to measure 28 day survival without treatment in alcohol hepatitis?
Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score
Using age, inflammation markers and LFTs
How do you manage alcoholic hepatitis?
Steroids
Manage infection, nutrition, renal impairment or coagulation problems if they arise