ALD Flashcards
What is jaundice?
Yellowing of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels being deposited in these places
What 3 main areas of pathology can cause jaundice?
1) pre-hepatic
2) hepatic
3) post-hepatic (blockage)
Name a pre-hepatic cause of jaundice?
Haemolytic anaemia
What is the main age group at risk of ALD?
45-64
Males > females
What is normal bilirubin?
30-35micromol/L
What is normal alkaline phosphatase?
100-150 U/L
What is normal ALT?
40-45 U/L
What is normal albumin?
35-55 g/L
What are the main causes of post-hepatic jaundice?
Blockage issues = malignancy or bending tumour
Can alcohol cause post-hepatic jaundice?
No, alcohol Hx does not always mean it is the cause
What is the most common type of pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
What is the treatment for post-hepatic blockage causing jaundice?
ERCP
Stenting of ducts
Treatment of underlying blockage cause (tumour/mass)
What signs may you see on a patient with chronic alcoholic liver disease?
- Spider naevi/angioma = Liver can not metabolise oestrogen, which is the cause of this due to its effect of dilating the sphincters of cutaneous arterioles
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Ascites
- Caput Medusa
- Pruritic scratch marks (bilirubin from jaundice causes pruritis)
Ascites can be transudates or exudates.
Explain the difference and how each occurs in Ascites.
Transudates = low protein content = caused by increased hepatic portal vein pressure = cirrhosis causes
Exudates = active secretion due to inflammation = protein content high (>30g/L) = malignancy causes
What is pabrinex?
What does it treat?
Injection
Contains Vits B and C (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, nicotinamide and ascorbic acid)
Treats poor diet (alcoholics, psychiatric, post-surgery)
