Block 32 Week 7&8 Flashcards
history of acute liver failure?
- alcohol use
- jaundice and encephalopathy
- meds & herbal meds
- exposures
FHx to ask abt in ALF
WIlson disease
RF for viral hepatitis?
- travel
- transfusions
- sexual contacts
- occupation
- body piercing
exposure to hepatic toxins?
- mushrooms
- organic solvents
- phosphorous contained in fireworks
ALF?
- characterised by coagulopathy of hepatic origin and altered levels of conciousness due to hepatic encephalopathy
- drug induced liver injury is the most common cause of ALF
What is ALF usually accompanied by?
- ALF is usually accompanied by transaminitis and hyperbilirubinaemia and usually initated following severe acute liver injury
ALF =
severe acute liver injury with development of coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy within 28 weeks of disease onset
Acute liver injury =
severe acute liver injury from primary liver aetiology -hepatic encephaolpathy is absent
what is the key difference between ALF and ALI?
- development of HE is the key differentiating factor between ALF and ALI
Secondary liver injury?
- secondary liver injury - similar to ALI but no evidence of a primary liver insult
- e.g.s severe sepsis or ischeamic hepatitis
classifying ALF?
- hyperacute
- acute
- subacute
hyperacute ALF?
HE within 7 days of noticing jaundice. Best prognosis as much better chance of survival and spontaneous recovery.
Acute ALF?
HE within 8-28 days of noticing jaundice
Subascute ALF?
- HE within 5-12 weeks of noticing jaundice (ALF may be defined up to 28 weeks).
- Worst prognosis as usually associated with shrunken liver and limited chance of recovery.
CLD?
- HE occuring more than 28 weeks after onset of jaundice is categorised as CLD
Most common cause of acute liver failure in europe vs rest of the world?
- In europe: DILI
- worldwide: viral hepatitis
primary causes of ALF?
- viruses (A, B, E)
- paracetmol
- toxin induced - death cap mushroom
- pregnancy related e.g fatty liver of pregnancy
Conditions causing ALF?
- Budd chiari syndrome
- wilson’s disease
drugs linked to ALF?
- statins, carbamazepine, ecstasy
secondary causes of ALF?
- ischeamic hepatitis
- severe infection e.g. malaria
- heat stroke
- liver resection e.g. post-hepatectomy liver failure
- malignant infiltration
Pathophys of ALF?
- Most cases of ALF are associated with a direct insult to the liver leading tomassive hepatocyte necrosisand/orapoptosis, which prevents the liver from carrying out its normal function.
- as it progresses it can lead to hyperdynamic circ state with low systemic vascular resistance
- this can lead to poor peripheral perfusion and multi organ failure
How is cerebral autoreg disrupted in ALF?
- marked cerebral oedema occurs due to hyperammonaemia causing cytotoxic oedema and increased cerebral blood flow that disrupts cerebral autoregulation.
CFs of ALF?
- characterised by jaundice, confusion and coagulopathy
- key features are jaundice and HE
How does HE present?
- HE may manifest as confusion, altered mental status, asterixis (i.e. flapping tremor) and/or coma.
features that suggest decompensated cirrhosis rather than ALF?
- in patients w ALI or ALF look for features of CLF e.g. spider naevi, palmar erythema, leuconychia that might suggest first pres of decompensated cirrhosis rather than ALF
signs and symptoms of ALF?
- altered mental status, confusion, asterixis, jaundice
- RUQ pain
- hepatomegaly
- ascites
- bruising
- GI bleeding: hamaetemsis, meaena
Systemic signs of ALF?
- hypotension and tachycardia from reduced systemic vascular resistance
- raised ICP
Raised ICP?
papilloedema, bradycardia, hypertension, low GCS
Imaging for ALF?
CT abd pelvis
ALI vs ALF?
- The key differentiation between ALI and ALF is the development of HE.
contra-indications to liver transplant ?
- previous cirrhosis, which would indicate decompensated cirrhosis rather than ALF, heavy alcohol use, significant co-morbidities (e.g. major cardiac or respiratory disease) or terminal illness (e.g. cancer).
ALF management principals - CV, resp, GI, metabolic
ALF management principals - renal, coagulopathy, spesis, neurological, liver
complications from ALF?
- sepsis due to marked immune dysfunction and progressive multi organ failure - AKI, metabolic disturbance, haemorrhage (GI bleeding) and cerebral dysfunction
- cerebral dysfunction e.g. seizures, irreversible brain injury, cerebral dysfunction is commonly the result of raised intercranial pressure
Why are ppl at risk of high output cardiac failure with ALF?
due to slow vascular resistance
Reducing
Alcohol misuse?
- alcohol licensing laws
- taxation
- alcohol control zones
- driving legistation
- gov funded education campagins e.g. ‘know your limits’
tobacco misuse?
- tobacco licensing laws
- taxation
- smoking in public places bans
- advertising bans
- smoking cessation services
illicit substance law?
- misuse of drugs act 2010
Risk minimisation w ilicit substances?
- risk minimisation: needle exchange services, maintenance Tx to prevent wider public health problems associated w substance misuse (BBV spread, crime, impact on children)
service for illicit substances?
- gov funded internet and phone advice services (FRANK)
proactive public health policies?
- Proactive policies attempt to reduce substance misuse related harm prior to initiation, for example by classifying new substancesas they are developed and therefore attempting to limit supply to the market.
reactive policies?
- Reactive policies aim to respondquickly to epidemics in substance misuse.
e.g. reactive policy
- For example, as new substances or diseases emerge educational campaigns respond to provide early advice to limit potential harms andappropriate interventions have been initiated (e.g. needle exchange services).
acute cholangitis?
- infection of the biliary tree which characteristically results in pain, jaundice and fevers
acute cholangitis almost always occurs due to
bacterial infection secondary to biliary obstruction.
acute cholangitis a.k.a
ascending cholangitis
biliary obstruction is often seen secondary to?
choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the biliary tree) or biliary strictures (both benign and malignant).
AC epidemiology?
- median presenting age is 50-60 affecting men and women equally
- can occur following ERCP
Most common cause of AC?
- choledocholithiasis (stones in bile duct) most common cause
Cholelithiasis =
gallstomes
acute cholangitis occurs due to?
impaired drainage and bacterial overgrowth
AC: benign strictures leading to obstruction can occur due to:
- chronic pancreatitis
- iatrogenic injury
- radio/chemo
AC and PSC?
- primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated w UC and is characterised by inflammation and stricturing of bile ducts
- Although the strictures are typically benign, patients are at increased risk of many cancers including cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Malignant stricture?
- can lead to acute cholangitis
- such as cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and GB cancer
other causes of AC?
- post ERCP
- blocked biliary stent
- extrinsic compression
- parasites - (Ascaris lumbricoides)
How does acute cholangitis typically present?
RUQ pain, fever, jaundice - Chracots triad
AC - reynolds triad (5)?
- RUQ pain, fever, jaundice, shock, confusion
- shock and confusion tends to be seen in the more serious cases w systemic sepsis
symptoms of AC?
- RUQ / epigastric pain
- Fevers
- Malaise
- Nausea/vomiting
Signs of AC?
- RUQ/ epigastric tenderness
- pyrexia
- jaundice
- hypotension and confusion in severe cases
Ix of acute cholangitis?
- Acute cholangitis is most commonly investigated withUSS, CT abdomen/pelvis and MRCP.
- Blood tests reveal elevated inflammatory markers and an obstructive picture (raised bilirubin and ALP, though transaminases may also be elevated) on liver function tests.
US?
allows assessment of the gallbladder for gallstones and assessment of the CBD
CT?
good visualisation of the biliary tree, including the distal portion, used where USS inconclusive, to evaluate for abnormal lesions/tumours or where other diagnoses are suspected.
MRCP?
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography offers excellent visualisation of the biliary tree. Often used where CT/USS are inconclusive.
ERCP?
involves endoscopic intubation of the ampulla of Vater. Allows good view of biliary tree whilst allowing therapeutic intervention such as drainage
Management of AC?
- ppts w infected obstructed biliary system require urgent drainage - ERCP is first line or PTC if it fails/ unavailable
- antibiotics
- fluids
- analgesia
Bile =
- exocrine secretion of the liver
- produced continously by hepatocytes
- contains cholesterol and waste products like bilirubin and bile salts which aid in digestion of fats
mechanical causes of biliary obstruction can be divided into
intrahepatic and extrahepatic
intrahepatic causes of obst?
- intrahepatIc cholestasis generally occurs at the level of the hepatocyte or biliary canalicular membrane
- causes include viral hepatitis, drug induced hepatitis, drug induced cholestasis, biliary cirrhosis, ALD
drugs that cause cholestasis?
- drugs like anabolic steroids and chlorpromazine are known to directly cause cholestasis
- thiazide diuretic use increases risk of gallstones
what is a common cause of acute cholestatic injury that can mimic biliary obstruction?
- Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is one of the most frequent causes of acute cholestatic injury that can mimic biliary obstruction.
extrahepatic obstruction?
- Extrahepatic obstruction to the flow of bile can occur within the ducts or secondary to external compression
- overall, gallstones are the most common cause of biliary obstruction
- Other causes of blockage within the ducts include malignancy, infection, and biliary cirrhosis.
extrahepatic obstruction causes predominantly?
conjugated bilirubinaemia
obst jaundice - Mirrizi syndrome?
- Mirizzi syndrome is the presence of a stone impacted in the cystic duct or the gallbladder neck, causing inflammation and external compression of the common hepatic duct and thus biliary obstruction.
- A fistula may form between the gallbladderand the CBD and the gallstone may then come to lie in the CBD.
ALT/ AST are markers of?
- found within liver cells at high concentrations
- marker of hepatocellular injury: hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, drug induced e.g. paracetamol overdose, HCC
classical LFT of alcoholic liver disease?
- TheAST:ALT ratiocan help determine the aetiology of hepatocellular injury, with a >2:1 ratio classical of alcoholic liver disease
ALP production?
- ALP is derived from biliary epithelial cells and bones
- Raised ALP levels can therefore be caused bycholestasisorbone disease.
cholestasis?
interruption in bile flow from hepatocytes to duodenum
ALP rise w normal GGT?
- An ALP rise withnormal GGTsuggests bone disease (e.g. Paget’s disease, vitamin D deficiency, bony metastases)
ALP and GGT rise?
- An ALP rise withassociated GGT riseis more suggestive of cholestasis
isolated GGT rise?
alcohol excess.
bilirubin ?
- breakdown product of hb breakdown
- predominantly metabolised and excreted by the liver
- jaundice usually absent until bilirubin levels exceed 50micromol/L
pre-hepatic jaundice?
- increased red blood cell breakdown -> too much bilirubin
- overwhelms the metabolism pathways
- most common cause is haemolysis and patients are often anaemic
type of bilirubin that accumulates in pre-hepatoc jaundice?
- Bilirubin isunconjugatedin the blood, as the hepatocytes have not yet metabolised it. The remainder ofLFTs are generally normal, as the liver is otherwise working well.
Deficiency of
gilberts syndrome?
- congenital disorder
- deficiency of glucosyltransferase - enzyme resp for the conjugation of bilirubin
how does gilberts typically present?
- Gilbert’s syndrome classically presents following viral infection withraised bilirubinbut normal LFTs/ full blood count.
hepatocellular jaundice?
- hepatocyte damage -> inability to metabolise unconjugated bilirubin
- high unconjugated bilirubin levels
- high ALT/AST levels
cholestatic/ obstructive jaundice ?
- cholestasis is an interruption in bile flow
- build up of conjugated bilirubin
- high ALP levels associated with high GGT
obst jaundice ->
pale stools and dark urine
why might stools also be pale in hepatocellular jaundice?
- Stools may also be pale in hepatocellular jaundice, as there is decreased bilirubin metabolism/excretion, however as the bilirubin in the blood is unconjugated, it will not be able to pass into the urine.
- Therefore, the urine should remain a normal colour.
causes of cholestasis - intrahep obstruction?
- hepatitis
- cirrhosis
- maligancy
- drugs (e.g. antibiotics, oral contraceptive pills, anabolic steroids)
- pregnancy
causes of extrahepatic obstruction ?
- gallstones
- PSC
Causesof predominantly unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia:
- Pre-hepatic jaundice (e.g. haemolysis)
- Gilbert syndrome
Causesof predominantly conjugatedhyperbilirubinaemia:
- Cholestasis
- Hepatocellular jaundice
what suggests a hepatocellular injury?
- greater than 10 fold inc in ALT
- less than 3 fold inc in ALP
What suggests cholestasis?
- less than 10 fold inc in ALT
- more than 3 fold inc in ALP
what suggests bone pathology?
isolateed ALP rise without GGT -
isolated bilirubin rise?
Anisolated bilirubin risewithout further LFT derangement suggests pre-hepatic jaundice or Gilbert’s disease.
summary table for LFTS
bilirubin metabolism pathway
Acute on chronic liver failure precipitating factors?
- most common precipitating factors for developing ACLF are bacterial infections and alcohol
CLD cause?
- Caused by repeated insults to the liver which can result in inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis
- variety of aetiological factors including alcohol, toxins, viruses and many others.
CLD is defined as?
- CLD is generally defined as progressive liver dysfunction for six months or longer.
- The end result of chronic liver disease is cirrhosis
Causes of CLD?
- alc
- viral
- primary biliary cholangitis
- primary scleorsing cholangitis
Syndromes linked to CLD?
- inherited e.g. Wilsons disease and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
- budd-chiari syndrome
CLD pathophys?
- Chronic liver disease may result from repeated insults that causeinflammation(i.e. chronic hepatitis) orcholestasis(i.e. impairment of bile flow).
- Excess deposition of fat in the liver (i.e. steatosis) can also promote an inflammatory response, which is seen in conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- overtime, fibrosis -> cirrhosis - irreversible liver remodeling
compensated cirrhosis?
- patients are typically asymptomatic as a small amount of residual function allows the liver to continue carrying out normal function despite extensive damage.
decompensated cirrhosis?
- in this state the liver no longer has the capacity to carry out its normal functions, which results in multiple complications.
- If the insult is removed, the liver may ‘recompensate’ over time to a state of compensated cirrhosis.
features of decomp cirrhosis?
- coagulopathy - bruising and deranged coagulation tests
- jaundice
- encephalopathy - confusion
- ascites - poor albumin synthesis
- GI bleeding from varices
Scoring system for cirrhosis?
- classification of decompensated cirrhosis
- child pugh score
classical features of CLD?
- spider naevi
- palmar erythema
- jaundice
- hair loss
- leuconychia
- asterixis
- ascites.
early features of CLD?
- early clinical features are usually non specific: anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, hepatomegaly, nausea, distrubed sleep pattern
stigmata of CLD?
- Caput medusa
- palar erythema
- splenomegaly
- Dupuytrens contracture
- Leuconychia
- Gynaecomastia
- Spider Naevi
Caput medusa?
distended and engorged superficial epigastric veins around the umbilicus.
Palmar erythema?
red discolouration on the palm of the hand, particularly over the hypothenar eminence.
Duputrens contracure?
thickening of the palmar fascia. Causes painless fixed flexion of fingers at the MCP joints (most commonly ring finger).
Leuconychia?
appearance of white lines or dots in the nails. Sign of hypoalbuminaemia.