Clinicians perspective Flashcards
How do you manage alcohol withdrawal?
Diazepam
What is peripheral neuropathy?
direct damage to peripheral nerves due to alcohol
What is compression neuropathy?
temporary damage to myelin sheath
What is myopathy?
(muscle damage)
sore muscles – acute after binges, chronic develops over weeks to months
What causes Wernickes encephalopathy?
thimine deficiency and cytotoxic oedema in mammillary bodies
What is the triad of Wernickes?
Abnormal:
eye movements
ataxia
confusion
Is Wernickes urgent?
YES
What makes up Korsakoffs?
Memory issues
Confabulation - making stuff up
How much does someone need to drink to develop cardiomyopathy?
8-9 units a day for 5 weeks
What is the effect of alcohol on the myofibrils?
impairs ventricular function and causes fibrosis of myofibrils
What happens to the hepatocytes in Alcohol related Fatty Liver Disease?
they swell with triglycerides
Does compensated cirrhosis have normal synthetic function?
YES
What are the consequences of decompensated cirrhosis?
ascites, encepalopathy, impaired synthetic function
What cancers does alcohol increase the risk of?
Hepatocellular carcinoma
breast cancer
oesophageal
squamous cell
What breakdown component of alcohol is carcinogenic?
acetaldehyde
