Gastro Flashcards
Younger women with deranged LFTs and signs of liver disease. Differential?
Autoimmune hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
Is azathioprine safe to use in pregnancy?
Yes
Conditions associated with autoimmune hepatitis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, RA, Grave’s, IBD, pleurisy, AIHA
Stepwise plan of autoimmune hepatitis
- Autoimmune profile –> ANA and SMA
- Protein electrophoresis –> high titres IgG suggestive
- Arrange other bloods –> FBC, LFTs
- Consider liver biopsy –> interface hepatitis + plasma cells +++
Approach for autoimmune hepatitis
- Watchful waiting –> asymptomatic, pre-cirrhotic
- Immunosuppression –> pred 40mg PO, taper and add azathioprine for long term
- Liver transplant in severe disease
How is remission of autoimmune hepatitis monitored?
Measuring AST/ALT and IgG levels post-therapy
What is primary biliary cirrhosis?
Chronic autoimmune disease characterised by progressive destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts, resulting in cirrhosis
Clinical features of PBC?
Fatigue + pruritus = earliest
Jaundice = late
Other –> hepatosplenomegaly, facial hyperpigmentation, xanthelasma
How does PBC cause xanthelasma?
Dietary cholesterol metabolised in liver and excreted in bile. In PBC there is fibrosis of the biliary tracts causing cholestasis. Cholesterol accumulates and deposits around the eyes and tendons.
Stepwise plan for PBC?
- LFTs –> primary cholestatic picture
- Autoimmune profile + Ig electrophoresis
- Imaging –> exclude extrahepatic obstruction (US / MRI)
- Consider biopsy –> if unclear = lymphocytic infiltration with granulomatous changes
Management of PBC?
- Ursodeoxycholic acid
- Symptomatic treatment –> pruritus (cholestyramine), malabsorption (replace fat-soluble vitamins)
- Consider liver transplant
What is hereditary haemochromatosis?
An autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterised by excess iron deposition throughout the body
Early features of haemochromatosis
Non-specific = fatigue, abdo pain, arthralgia, ED
Late complications of haemochromatosis
Endocrine –> diabetes, hypogonadism
Cardiac –> arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy
Hepatic –> hepatomegaly, cirrhosis
MSK –> bronze skin, arthralgia
Neuro –> mood disturbances, memory impairment
What causes bronzing of skin in hereditary haemochromatosis?
Excess haemosiderin deposition + haemosiderin-induced melanocyte activation
What mutation causes haemochromatosis?
HFE gene on chromosome 6 –> regulates hepcidin
Hepcidin inhibits ferroportins in gut –> increased iron absorption
How do you manage haemochromatosis?
- Dietary advice –> low iron, avoid alcohol
- Regular venesection –> stimulate bone marrow to produce new RBCs and use up iron
- Chelation therapy –> IV desferrioxamine (if CI)
- Genetic counselling –> first degree
- Liver transplant –> end stage
What is hepatocellular carcinoma?
The commonest primary cancer arising from liver hepatocytes
Causes of HCC?
Chronic HBV and HCV
Cirrhosis –> ALD, HHC, PBC
Fungal infection –> Aspergillus
Misc –> PSC, androgenic steroids, COCP use
How would you investigate HCC?
- Imaging –> US for screening, otherwise CT / MRI
- Consider liver biopsy
- Tumour markers –> alpha-fetoprotein (6 month follow up)
How would you manage HCC?
Non-cirrhotic –> hepatic resection
Single nodule <5cm or <3 nodules <3 cm –> liver transplant
Consider RFA
Multinodular, intermediate –> trans-arterial chemoembolisation
Advanced –> chemotherapy (e.g. SORAFENIB)
Palliative care
What is the differential for a RIF mass?
Crohn’s disease, appendix mass / abscess, caecal carcinoma, ovarian/renal mass, TB
Clinical features of Crohn’s?
Diarrhoea, often not bloody
Abdo discomfort +/- weight loss
Aphthous ulcers, glossitis, fistulae
What are some extra-abdominal manifestations of Crohn’s?
Derm –> erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
Eyes –> anterior uveitis, episcleritis
MSK –> arthritis, AnkSpond
Liver –> gallstones
How would you investigate Crohn’s?
- Bloods –> FBCs, LFTs, haematinics
- Stool testing –> MC&S (exclude infection), faecal calprotectin
- Imaging –> AXR +/- erect CXR, MRI pelvis, capsule endoscopy
- Endoscopy –> ileocolonoscopy + biopsy
Describe the management of Crohn’s in terms of inducing remission.
- First line = oral/IV corticosteroids
- Consider budesonide or 5-ASA therapy in some situations
- Add-on in resistive (2+ exacerbations/year) cases –> azathioprine or 6-MP (or methotrexate if CI)
- Consider biologics –> e.g. infliximab, adalimumab
- Consider surgery
Describe the management of Crohn’s in terms of maintaining remission.
- Stop smoking + lifestyle advice
- First-line = azathioprine or 6-MP (never use long-term steroids)
- Alternative = MTX
- Stricture management –> balloon dilatation via colonoscopy, otherwise surgery
- Monitoring –> assess osteopenia/-porosis, colonoscopy surveillance for colorectal Ca if >10 years since symptom onset