Alcoholic Liver Disease Flashcards
What is the main cause of alcoholic liver disease?
Due to long term consumption of alcohol
How does alcoholic fatty liver disease progress?
Alcohol related fatty liver- drinking leads to a build up of fat in the liver
Alcoholic hepatitis- drinking over long periods of time causes inflammation
Cirrhosis- liver made up of scar tissue
How does Alcoholic Liver Disease present?
- Jaundice
- Spider naevi
- Palmar erythema
- Gynaecomastia
- Bruising and ascites
What are the main investigations for Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Gamma-GT is characteristically elevated
Ratio of AST:ALT > 3 suggests of acute alcoholic hepatitis
What is the management of Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Prednisolone
What scan would you do to diagnose alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Ultrasound scan
What would you find on an USS of someone with fatty liver disease?
Increased echogenicity
What Nutritional support might be required for someone with Alcoholic liver disease?
Thymine (vitamin B1)
How does chronic alcohol use affect GABA and glutamate systems?
Causes down regulation of the GABA system and upregulation of the glutamate system
How does someone suffering from alcohol withdrawal present?
Acute confusion Hallucination Severe agitation Tachycardia Tremor Hypertension
What is the management of alcohol withdrawal?
Chlordiazepoxide (benzodiazepine)
IV vitamin B1
How can the MCV be affected in someone with alcoholic liver disease?
MCV increased
How can theh LFT’s be affected in someone with alcoholi fatty liver disease?
elevated ALT and AST and gamma-GT
ALP raised later in disease
Why might there be an elevated prothrombin time?
Reduced synthetic function of the liver
What can be done to confirm a diagnosis of alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Liver biopsy
