Alim 1: Liver Flashcards
How is bilirubin found in the blood?
Bound to albumin (unconjugated)
Where is bilirubin conjugated?
The liver
What causes hepatic jaundice?
Lack of conjugation and excretion
What causes pre-haptic jaundice?
Haemolytic anaemia
What causes post-hepatic jaundice?
Obstruction of the biliary tree
What does ALT show?
Hepatocellular
What does ALP show?
Biliary
Why can’t you use bile acid to assess liver function in jaundiced animals?
If bilirubin is up then bile acids will be too
What are bile lakes?
Inter-canaliculi deposits of bile
What is GGT a marker of?
Biliary
What is happening if GGT and ALP are both up?
Hepatobiliary disease
What are the two most common hepatobiliary diseases in cats that won’t eat?
Hepatic lipidosis then lymphocytic plasmacytic cholangitis
What is happening if urea in low?
Liver is not breaking down protein
What is happening if albumin is low?
A liver problem, as liver makes albumin
In which species can you do resting and post-prandial bile acids?
Anything apart from horse or bird