Chronic Liver Disease Flashcards
List 7 key functions of the liver
Synthesis of clotting factors (except factor 8)
Glucose homeostasis (gluconeogenesis, glycogen storage)
Albumin synthesis
Conjugation and clearance of bilirubin
NH3 metabolism (urea cycle)
Drug metabolism and clearance
Immune (dealing with gut-derived bacteria and bacterial products)
Describe the liver enzyme pattern seen in hepatocellular injury or necrosis
ALT, AST elevation
Very high ALTs in acute viral hepatitis, acute drug toxicity, ischaemia
Describe the liver enzyme pattern seen in intra- or extra-hepatic cholestasis
ALP, GGT elevation
Minor elevation of transaminases
Typical of biliary obstruction, liver infiltration, cholestatic reactions to drugs
Which is more liver-specific: ALT or AST?
ALT predominantly from the liver
AST from many sites
What forms of liver disease tend to present with a mixed picture in terms of the liver enzyme pattern?
Alcoholic liver disease
Fatty liver disease
List 5 symptoms of CLD
Fatigue Weight loss (muscle) or gain (ascites) Bleeding (haematemesis from varices) Abdominal distension (ascites) Confusion (encephalopathy)
List 3 clinical signs of CLD
Spider naevi
Splenomegaly
Jaundice
What pattern of liver enzymes is typically seen in CLD?
Low albumin
Raised bilirubin
AST>ALT (AST not routine)
NB LFTs may be normal
Describe the coagulopathy seen in CLD
Prolonged INR (or high normal 1.2-1.3) Low platelets (or normal, e.g. under 200)
80 year old woman presents with abnormal LFTs (ALT 54, AST 58, ALP 200)
40 years earlier had severe hepatitis with hepatic failure (encephalopathy and peripheral oedema) after trip to QLD, managed at Fairfield Hospital in ICU
Negative viral and AI serology at the time and made a full recovery
PHx: HTN, mitral valve prolapse
Rx: verapamil, esomeprazole, frusemide
SHx: lives alone (widowed) nearby children
No alcohol (current or past)
No FHx of liver disease
O/E: 3 spider naevi, no other peripheral signs of liver disease, no palpable hepato-splenomegaly, no ascites or oedema, loud pan-systolic murmur consistent with MR
Ix?
Ix: FBE, LFTs, coags
What do we look for O/E in CLD?
Stigmata of CLD
Signs of underlying aetiology
Signs of decompensation
Stigmata of CLD
Clubbing Leuconychia Palmar erythema Spider naevi Gynaecomastia
Signs of liver decompensation
Jaundice
Ascites/oedema
Bruising
Signs of underlying aetiology for CLD
Dupuytren’s contracture (EtOH)
Parotidomegaly (EtOH)
What is clubbing? Mechanism in CLD?
Increase in soft tissue of distal fingers/toes
Arterial hypoxaemia due to pulmonary AV shunt?
What is leuconychia? Mechanism in CLD?
Opacification of the nail bed
Hypoalbuminaemia or compression of capillary flow by EC fluid
Mechanism of palmar erythema in CLD
May be due to excess oestrogens and altered micro-vasculature
4 causes of Dupuytren’s contracture
CLD due to alcohol
Manual labour
Anti-epileptics
DM
Mechanism of parotidomegaly in alcoholism
Fatty infiltration due to alcohol toxicity +/- malnutrition
Describe the characteristic appearance of a spider naevus
Central arteriole with radiating small vessels
Blanches on compression
Where are spider naevi typically seen?
SVC distribution
What number of spider naevi is abnormal?
> 2 abnormal
What are multiple spider naevi pathognomonic of?
Cirrhosis
Mechanism of gynaecomastia in CLD
Imbalance of oestrogen:testosterone OR secondary to medication (spironolactone)
Mechanism of jaundice in decompensated CLD
Reduced bilirubin processing and excretion (including gall stones, HCC or portal vein thrombosis)
Mechanism of ascites in decompensated CLD
Abdominal free fluid due to combination of reduced oncotic pressure (low albumin) and increased portal pressure
Mechanism of coagulopathy in decompensated CLD
Reduced clotting factors,thrombocytopaenia
ALP 170 U/L GGT 88 U/L ALT 54 U/L AST 58 U/L Bilirubin 17 umol/L Albumin 36 g/L INR 1.1 Platelets 125 x 10^9/L What do these results suggest? What further tests would help?
Mixed elevation of liver enzymes AST>ALT suggests possible cirrhosis Normal synthetic function Possible portal HTN (low platelets) Further Ix: hepatitis serology, ANCA, ANA, AMA, ASMA, ALKM, liver U/S, consider liver biopsy
What does a positive ANCA and ANA indicate?
??
What is looked for on liver U/S in CLD?
Hepatic echogenicity Any focal lesions Liver and spleen size Portal vein diameter and flow Presence or absence of ascites
Describe the sonographic appearance of a cirrhotic liver
Coarsened hepatic echogenicity
How might liver biopsy be performed?
Via intercostal approach
Describe the histopathological progression of CLD
F0: normal
F1: peri-portal fibrosis, no septa
F2: peri-portal fibrosis with a few septa
F3: numerous septa, no architectural distortion
F4: architectural distortion and nodule formation
When is staging fibrosis useful?
If it would alter Mx
Liver biopsy often useful in this case
What are the risks of liver biopsy and how common are these?
Minor complications (e.g. pain): 14% Major complications (e.g. haemorrhage/perforation): 0.2-1.0% Mortality: 0.009%-0.2%
What alternative is there to liver biopsy and when is this indicated?
FibroScan
For patients with HCV (remains a research tool for other conditions)
What is FibroScan and how does it work?
Transient elastography: probe induces an elastic wave through the liver, velocity of wave is evaluated in a region located located from 2.5cm to 6.5cm below the skin surface
What measurement does FibroScan provide?
Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM): absent or mild fibrosis, significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis, cirrhosis
Median LSM >13 kPa suggests cirrhosis
ARFI
Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging
What is ARFI?
High power ultrasonic waves are used to displace tissue for the purpose of tissue characterisation and measurements
Acoustic waves displace energy into the tissue; this energy generates a force that causes displacement of the tissue
These motions are used to derive information about the tissue
What is the “rule of 3s” for identifying the cause of CLD?
Big 3: HBV, HCV, alcohol
AI 3: AIH, PBC, PSC
Metabolic 3: haemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Other 3: fatty liver disease (NASH), Budd-Chiari (hepatic vein thrombosis), chronic biliary obstruction (e.g. tumour, CF)
What are 4 main functions of the liver and how are these related to staging of CLD?
Make proteins include clotting factors: low levels of albumin/clotting factors results in coagulopathy, bleeding, ascites and oedema
Processes bilirubin: failure to excrete results in jaundice
Metabolises drugs and toxic waste (e.g. ammonia): build up of waste products leads to encephalopathy
First port for blood from intestines: portal HTN results in ascites, splenomegaly and varices (+/- bleeding)
List 3 other problems which may result from CLD
Hepatorenal syndrome (renal failure due to CLD)
HCC (aka hepatoma but NOT benign)
Metabolic failure
What kinds of liver disease is HCC associated with?
Cirrhosis from any cause
HBV in the absence of cirrhosis
What is the presentation of metabolic failure related to CLD?
Hypoglycaemia (late)
Feminisation/masculinisation
What does “decompensation” in the context of CLD refer to?
Any of the following: jaundice, ascites/oedema, coagulopathy, variceal bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome