Gastroenterology Flashcards
What is liver cirrhosis?
Chronic inflammation and damage
Cells replaced with scar tissue
Nodules of scar tissue form
Affects structure an blood flow through liver, increasing resistance- Portal HTN
What are the 4 most common causes of liver cirrhosis?
Alcoholic liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Hep B
Hep C
What are the rarer causes of liver cirrhosis?
AI hep
PBC
Haemochromatosis
Wilson’s disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
CF
Amiodarone, methotrexate, sodium valproate
List examination findings of liver disease
Cachexia- Wasting of body and muscles
Jaundice- Raised bilirubin
Hepatomegaly
Small nodular liver
Splenomegaly- Due to portal HTN
Spider naevi- Telangiectasia with central arteriole and small vessels radiating away
Palmar erythema- Elevated oestrogen
Gynaecomastia and testicular atrophy- Endocrine dysfunction
Bruising- Abnormal clottingExcoriations
Ascites
Caput medusae- Distended paraumbilical veins due to portal HTN
Leukonychia (white fingernails)- associated with hypoalbuminaemia
Asterixis- Flapping tremor- Decompensated liver disease
Outline a non-invasive liver screen
Done following abnormal LFTs without a clear cause
US liver- Fatty liver
Hep B and C serology
Autoantibodies- AI hep, PBC and PSC
Immunoglobulins- AI hepatitis and PBC
Caeruloplasmin- Wilsons disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin levels
Ferritin and transferrin (hereditary haemochromatosis)
Which autoantibodies are relevant to liver disease?
ANA
Smooth muscle antibodies
Antimitochondrial antibodies
Antibodies to liver kidney microsome type 1 (LKM-1)
What happens to LFTs in decompensated cirrhosis?
(Can be normal if not decompensated)
Deranged bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP
Which other bloods should be done for liver cirrhosis other than LFTs?
Low albumin- Due to reduced synthetic function of liver
Increased prothrombin time- Due to reduced synthetic function of liver (decreased production of clotting factors)
Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)- Indicates more advanced disease
Hyponatremia (low sodium)- Occurs with fluid retention in severe liver disease
Urea and creatinine- Deranged in hepatorenal syndrome
Alpha-fetoprotein- Tumour marker for hepatocellular carcinoma
What is the 1st line investigation for assessing fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) blood test
Measures HA, PIIINP, TIMP-1
>10.51 - Advanced fibrosis
Recheck every 3y
How does liver cirrhosis present on US?
Nodularity on surface of liver
Corkscrew appearance to hepatic arteries with increased flow to compensate for reduced portal flow
Enlarged portal vein with reduced flow
Ascites
Splenomegaly
What are the screening tools used for hepatocellular carcinoma?
US
Alpha-fetoprotein
How does non-alcoholic fatty liver disease present on US?
Increased echogenicity
What is a transient elastography?
‘Fibroscan’
Assesses stiffness of liver using high-frequency sound waves
Determines degree of fibrosis to test for liver cirrhosis
What can happen to the oesophagus in portal HTN?
Oesophageal varices
When is the MELD score used?
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease
Used every 6 mths in compensated cirrhosis
Bilirubin, creatinine, INR, sodium, and whether they require dialysis
Gives an estimated 3mth mortality %
What is the Child-Pugh Score?
Assesses severity of liver disease and prognosis
Minimum score 5, maximum 15- Each scored 1-3
A- Albumin
B- Bilirubin
C- Clotting (INR)
D- Dilation (ascites)
E- Encephalopathy
Which underlying causes need to be addressed for liver cirrhosis?
Stop drinking alcohol
Lifestyle changes for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Antiviral drugs for Hep C
Endoscopy every 3y for oesophageal varices
How do you monitor for complications of liver cirrhosis?
MELD score every 6mths
US and AFP every 6mths for hepatocellular carcinoma
Endoscopy every 3y for oesophageal varices
When is a liver transplant considered in liver cirrhosis?
In decompensated liver disease
A- Ascites
H- Hepatic encephalopathy
O- Oesophageal varices bleeding
Y- Yellow (jaundice)
What is the prognosis of liver cirrhosis?
5y survival about 50% once cirrhosis developed
List complications of cirrhosis
Malnutrition and muscle wasting
Portal HTN, oesophageal varices, bleeding varices
Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Hepatorenal syndrome
Hepatic encephalopathy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Why does cirrhosis lead to malnutrition?
Loss of appetite due to reduced intake
Cirrhosis affects protein metabolism in liver and reduces amount of protein liver produces
Disrupts ability of liver to store glucose as glycogen and release it when required
What is the management of malnutrition in cirrhosis?
Regular meals
High protein and calorie intake
Reduced sodium intake to minimise fluid retention
Avoid alcohol
Why does cirrhosis lead to portal HTN and varices?
Portal vein comes from Sup. mesenteric and splenic veins and delivers blood to liver
Liver cirrhosis increases resistance to blood flow in liver= Increased back pressure- Results in splenomegaly
Causes swollen and tortuous vessels at sites where collaterals form between portal and systemic venous systems- Distal oesophagus (oesophageal varices) and anterior abdo wall (caput medusae)