Conditions Basic

Question 1

Acute liver failure

Answer 1

• A rapid decline in hepatic function characterised by jaundice, coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with no evidence of prior disease
• Most commonly caused by Hep A, B and E

Question 2

Alcoholic liver disease

Answer 2

• A condition that results from long term excessive consumption of alcohol on the liver
• The main cause of liver death in the UK

Question 3

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Answer 3

• Most common cause of chronic liver disease in the Western World
• Diagnosis is based on exclusion of other aetiologies

Question 4

Acute hepatitis

Answer 4

• Inflammation of the liver lasting less than 6 months

- Can be viral, non-viral or non-infective

Question 5

Chronic hepatitis

Answer 5

Inflammation that lasts more than 6 months

Question 6

Hepatitis A

Answer 6

• Infection caused by HAV RNA virus

- Transmitted by faecal-oral route

Question 7

Hepatitis B

Answer 7

• Infection caused by DNA HBV virus the most common liver infection globally
• Blood borne virus

Question 8

Hepatitis C

Answer 8

RNA virus that spreads by the blood and body fluids

Question 9

Hepatitis D

Answer 9

• Infection caused by a RNA virus that attaches itself to HBV and simultaneously infects the liver
• Blood and body fluid borne

Question 10

Liver Cirrhosis

Answer 10

• The pathological end-stage of chronic liver disease most commonly resulting from HVB, HVC and alcohol and non-alcohol related liver disease
• Results in portal hypertension and liver insufficiency

Question 11

Portal hypertension

Answer 11

• An abnormally high BP in the portal vein and its branches

- Resulting in varices, splenomegaly and ascites

Question 12

Ascites

Answer 12

• Pathological collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity caused by cirrhosis of the liver causing portal hypertension
• Portal hypertension causes elevated hydrostatic pressure and decreased osmotic pressure

Question 13

Jaundice

Answer 13

When the skin and/or sclera turns yellow as a result of accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin in the bloodstream and subsequent deposition in the skin, sclera and mucous membranes

Question 14

Biliary colic

Answer 14

• Pain in the abdomen due to obstruction
• Most usually caused by stones in the cystic duct or common bile duct of the biliary tree
• Colic = sudden pain

Question 15

Cholecystitis

Answer 15

• Acute inflammation of the gallbladder

- A major complication of gallstones

Question 16

Cholelithiasis

Answer 16

The presence of solid concentrations in the gallbladder

Question 17

Ascending cholangitis

Answer 17

• Acute infection of the biliary tree

- Can quickly become an acute septic, life-threatening infection that requires rapid evaluation and treatment

Question 18

Primary biliary cholangitis

Answer 18

• Chronic disease of the small intrahepatic bile ducts characterised by progressive bile duct damage and eventually loss
• A complication of chronic portal tract inflammation , fibrosis develops and secondary effects of toxic bile acids retained in the liver results in cirrhosis

Question 19

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Answer 19

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Question 20

Acute pancreatitis

Answer 20

A disorder of the exocrine pancreas and associated with acinar cell injury with local systemic inflammatory response

Question 21

Chronic pancreatitis

Answer 21

Chronic inflammation of the pancreas resulting in fibrosis and reduced function of the pancreatic tissue