Disorders of the Liver I - Exam 4 Flashcards
What makes up the porta hepatis?
hepatic portal vein
hepatic artery
common hepatic duct
What are 4 jobs of a hepatocyte?
-detoxify harmful substances
-help maintain normal blood glucose levels
-break down glycogen
-store vitamins A, D, E, K, B12, iron and copper
What are the roles of the liver with regards to glucose?
glycogenesis and glycogenolysis
Glycogenesis: Converting glucose to glycogen
Glycogenolysis: Converting glycogen, fats & proteins to glucose
What is the role of the liver with regards to testosterone?
Synthesis of cholesterol for use as bile salts and steroid hormones (testosterone)
What is the role of the synthesis of the plasma proteins?
Synthesis of plasma proteins (albumin) and clotting factors
What is bile composed of? Where is is made? Where is it stored?
bile salts
phosholipids
cholesterol
bilirubin
made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder
What are common manifestations of liver dz?
hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice
Where does bilirubin come from? How does it become conjugated?
from the breakdown of RBC, specifically heme that breaks down into protporphyrin and unconjugated bilirubin
Unconugated bilirubin gets picked up by albumin and taken to the liver, once it reaches the liver, UCB and the enzyme (UGT) combine to form conjugated bilirubin that is then taken to the gallbladder for storage
______ gives poop its brown color. If poop is NOT a brown color, what does it make you think?
stercobilin
problem with the liver
What is it called when the pt’s eye is jaundice?
scleral icterus
What is normal total serum bilirubin? What is normal total direct bilirubin? What should you order?
Total Serum bilirubin is normally
.2-1.2 mg/dL
Total Direct Bilirubin
Less than .3 mg/dL
typically order BOTH total and direct bilirubin
What body part tends to get jaundice first? What level does bilirubin have to be in order for it to show up in the skin?
Eyes show jaundice first, then skin
greater or equal to 2.5 for the skin to show jaundice
Would pre-hepatic jaundice have higher unconjugated or conjugated bilirubin?
pre-hepatic would have higher UNconjugated levels
What is pre-hepatic jaundice caused by? What is the MC cause?
increased RBC hemolysis or impaired uptake in certain illnesses
causes an increase in unconjugated bilirubin in serum
RBC hemolysis is MC cause
What effect does hepatic jaundice have on unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin levels?
Increased Unconjugated bilirubin in serum due to impaired function of hepatocytes
Increased Conjugated bilirubin in serum due to hepatocellular inflammation obstructs flow to hepatic ducts - blocking excretion
Post Hepatic Jaundice will show increased _____ bilirubin in serum and ________ in gut. What is the MC cause?
increase conjugated in serum
decreased bilirubin in gut (pale stools) and no urobilinogen in urine
Obstruction in biliary tract blocking excretion
will NOT have an effect on unconjuated bilirubin
UCB or CB?
Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia
UCB or CB?
Conjugated Hyperbilirubinemia
**if a pt complains of itching, is it pre, intra, or post- hepatic?
itching is POST-hepatic
What is this? Where is it commonly found?
acholic stool
post-hepatic jaundice
What are 6 common manifestations of liver dz? Give a brief description of each
Coagulopathy: Decreased production of clotting factors
Thrombocytopenia: decreased Thrombocytes produced in bone marrow due to decrease TPO which is needed to stimulate thrombopoiesis that is also made in the liver
Leukopenia/ Anemia: decrease in TPO and erythropoietin, bone marrow suppression, diminished filtering of blood and absorption from GI (iron malabsorption)
Hypoalbuminemia: albumin is synthesized by the liver
Hyperbilirubinemia: due to abnormalities
Portal Hypertension: increase in pressure
What is the job of the portal vein? What does portal hypertension manifest as?
Vein that carries blood from digestive organs to liver
Increased pressure causes large veins/varices to develop across the esophagus and stomach to get around blockage
What is the MC cause of portal hypertension?
cirrhosis of the liver, scar tissue blocks blood flow through the liver
**What is the gold standard for dx portal hypertension?
obtaining a hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement
Catheter is inserted inside the inferior vena cava (U/S can also be used), and then inside the portal vein (endoscopically) to measure the difference between both pressures
What are the 4 ways portal hypertension manifests?
Splenomegaly
Esophageal Varices
Hemorrhoids
Caput Medusae
What 6 veins commonly get engorged as a result of portal hypertension?
esophageal veins
paraumbilical veins
inferior mesenteric vein
superior mesenteric vein
middle rectal vein
inferior rectal veins
What are the ABCDE of portal hypertension?
Ascites
Bleeding
Caput medusae
Diminished liver function
Enlarged spleen
What is the “underfil” pathogenesis associated with ascites?
Hypoalbuminemia
Decreased serum albumin allows shift of fluid out of blood and into peritoneal cavity
What is the “overflow” pathogenesis associated with ascites?
Increased pressure in portal venous system and liver lymphatics
ascites also impairs _______. What does it result in?
RAAS system
increase in Na retention which increases water retention in the belly
______ is the pathogen most strongly associated with infected ascites/ Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
e. coli
What is hepatorenal syndrome? What does it result in?
Arterial vasodilation in splanchnic circulation triggered by portal hypertension. Increased production of vasodilators (nitric oxide) in splanchnic circulation. As hepatic disease becomes more severe, progressive rise in cardiac output and fall in SVR in splanchnic circulation.
kidneys become poorly perfused and it causes renal failure
Why does liver disease commonly cause pruritus?
Bile salts that enter blood and tissue as a result of bile backing up from liver impairment.
Bile salts deposit under skin, trigger receptors
Why can you see Testicular atrophy, gynecomastia (males); Menstrual irregularities (females) as a result of liver disease?
Impaired cholesterol synthesis for testosterone
Impaired inactivation of estrogen = excess estrogen
What are spider nevi and palmar erythema a result from? Where are spider nevi commonly found?
excess estrogen
on the belly and face
_____ is a result of build-up of ammonia and other toxic chemicals in bloodstream because the liver cannot remove waste from your body. What are the s/s?
Hepatic Encephalopathy
confusion, tremors, coma
What is important to note about LFTs?
they can only suggest a category of liver illness and are used to help point the provider in the right direction and give hints as to the underlying cause
What is included in the hepatic panel (LFTs)?
Total Protein
Albumin
Total Bilirubin
Direct Bilirubin
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) (SGOT)
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (SGPT)
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Name 5 additional liver function tests that are not included in the standard LFTs.
Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT)
PT/PTT
Cholesterol
BUN
Hepatitis Panel
which LFTs are found in serum?
ALT
AST
ALP
GGT
LDH
5’-nucleotidase
What 3 LFT are used to measure damage to hepatocytes?
AST
ALT
LDH
** Which LFT is most specific to the liver? Where is AST also found?
ALT is most specific for the liver
AST is also found in the heart and skeletal muscles
** in general terms, what are the values for ALT and AST for acute and chronic dz?
**________ = MOST suggestive of CHRONIC alcoholic liver disease
AST > ALT (ratio > 2)
**________ = NASH/nonalcoholic cirrhosis
AST > ALT (ratio > 1) but less than 2
What is important to remember about LDH?
it is present in most tissues and NOT specific enough to give information about liver damage
**What are the 2 enzymes that measure cholestasis (biliary obstruction)? Where is ____ found?
Alkaline phosphatase
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
GGT found in liver and biliary tract
Where is ALP commonly found? What is the typical normal range?
Enzyme found in liver, biliary tract, and bone
Typical normal range: 45-135 IU/L (lab specific)
**What are the general guidelines with regards to ALP levels?
Elevations > 4x upper limit = Hepatic cholestasis
aka think liver is the problem
Elevations < 4x upper limit = Nonhepatic/non cholestatic cause
aka not likely a hepatic cause