GI and liver Flashcards
which microorganism is likely to have caused each of the following:
- 84yr old with diarrhoea after a surgical operation at northern general
- 36yr old with low volume bloody stools who works in a takeaway
- 87 year old in a care home with confusion, dehydration, altered consciousness and diarrhoea
- 2 year old who has recently been to a petting zoo, loss of appetite and loose stools
- 27 year old student just returned from backpacking around south asia, diarrhoea, flatulence, nausea and abdo pain
- Clostridium difficile
- shigella
- norovirus
- e.coli
- vibrio cholerae
what should be done if you suspect c.dif infection
- control antibiotic usage
- isolate patient
- enteric precautions
- environmental cleaning
- treat with metronidazole or vancomycin
- test stool samples for toxin
what are the at risk groups of diarrhoea
- doubtful personal hygiene
- children attending preschool or nursery
- people whose work involves preparing or serving unwrapped/uncooked food
- HCW/ social care staff working with vulnerable people
what are the causes of acute liver injury
- viral (a,b,EBV)
- drug
- alcohol
- vascular
- obstruction
- congestion
what are the causes of chronic liver injury
- alcohol
- viral (B,C)
- autoimmune
- metabolic
what is the presentation of acute liver injury
- malaise
- nausea
- anorexia
- jaundice
- confusion
- bleeding
- liver pain
what is the presentation of chronic liver injury
- ascites
- oedema
- varices
- malaise
- anorexia
- easy bruising
- wasting
- hepatomegaly
rarer - jaundice
- confusion
what are the stages of bilirubin metabolism
haemoglobin –> haem –> biliverdin –> unconjucated bilirubin –> conjugated bilirubin –> urobilinogen — to either urobilin in urine or stercobilin in faeces.
increase of which compound causes jaundice
plasma bilirubin
what are the two types of jaundice and their causes
pre hepatic/unconjugated
- haemolysis (over production)
- gilberts syndrome (impaired conjugation)
- drugs (impaired hepatic uptake)
- neonatal jaundice
cholestatic/conjugated
- liver disease - hepatic - hepatitis, ischaemia, immune, alcohol
- bile duct obstruction - post hepatic - gallstone, stricture, blocked stent
what does the urine and stools look like in cholestatic jaundice
urine - dark
stools - pale
an increase in which liver enzymes may indicate liver disease
ALT
AST
What is the management of gallstone in the gallbladder and in the bile duct
gallbladder - laparoscopic cholecystectomy - bile acid dissolution bile duct - ECRP with spincterectomy and removal (balloon) - crushing -stent - antiemetics - NSAIDS -IV fluid NBM
what can drug induced liver injury cause
- acute hepatitis
- acute liver failure
what are the symptoms of paracetamol poisoning
- vomiting and RUQ pain
- then AKI, jaundice and encephalopathy
what is the management of paracetamol poisoning
- N acetylcysteine given by i.v.
- supportive to correct renal failure, encephalopathy, acid base balance, coagulation defects
what is a poor prognosis from paracetamol poisoning indicated by
- acidosis
- increased creatinine
- late presentation
- increased prothrombin time
what is ascites and its causes
- accumulation of protein rich (ascitic) fluid on the abdomen
- chronic liver disease
- neoplasia
- pancreatitis, cardiac causes
what are the symptoms and signs of ascites
- abdominal distension
- puddle sign
-shifting dullness - flanks fullness
symptoms - distension
-nausea - constipation
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
what is the pathogenesis of ascites
- portal hypertension!
causes systemic vasodilation, secretion of renin angiotensin, vasopressin, NaD
leads to fluid retention - low serum albumin
what is the management of ascites
- low sodium diet
- bed rest
- diuretics e.g spironolactone
- shunts
what is the difference between exudative and transudative ascites and give examples of conditions that cause each
transudative - pushed out by hydrostatic pressure due to decreased protein or increased venous pressure
- cirrhosis
- hypoproteinemic states
- CCF
- pericarditis
exudative - due to increased capillary permeability due to infection, inflammation or malignancy
- TB, pneumonia
- SLE, RA
- carcinoma
what is steatosis
fat accumulation in hepatocytes, can cause acute or chronic injury to the liver
affects cells with least o2 first - zone 3
what is cirrhosis
chronic irreversible liver damage and loss of hepatocellular architecture
- hepatic failure
- varices due to portal hypertension and ascites
which cell mediates acute alcoholic hepatitis
neutrophils
what are the causes of portal hypertension
cirrhosis
fibrosis
portal vein thrombosis
what is the pathology of portal hypertension
increased hepatic resistance
increased splanchnic blood flow
what are the consequences of portal hypertension
- varices - treat with terlopressin (gastric vasoconstrictor) and endoscopic binding
- splenomegaly
what are the complications of chronic liver disease
- constipation
- GI bleeds
- hypo: Na, Ka, glycaemia
- alcohol withdrawal
- susceptible to infections due to decreased reticuloendothelial function, impaired opsonisation, leukocyte function and permeable gut wall
- neoplasm development - in macro nodular cirrhosis when nodules regenerate this is prone to errors
- malnutrition
- coagulopathy due to decreased coagulation factor synthesis
what is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and treatment
- the commonest infection in cirrhosis
- diagnosis based on neutrophils in ascitic fluid
- commonest organisms - e.coli, klebsiella and streptococci
- infection of the ascitic fluid
cefotaxime and metronidazole
what are the causes of chronic liver disease
- alcohol
- non alcoholic steatohepatitis
- viral hepatitis (B,C)
- immune - autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
- primary biliary cirrhosis/cholangitis (PBC)
- primary sclerosing cholangitis ( PSC) - metabolic -haemochromatosis
- wilsons
- a1-antitrypsin deficiency - vascular - Budd - Chiari
what tests can be used in diagnosis of chronic liver disease
- viral serology - Hep B surface antigen/Hep C antibody
- biochem - copper and iron studies
- radiological
- immunology - autoantibodies, immunoglobulins
what are the tests for autoimmune hepatitis
- liver biopsy - lymphocytes and plasma cells within portal tracts and lobular parenchyma
- -resultant damage causes apoptosis causing necrosis
- serum bilirubin, ALT, AST and ALP all usually increased
- hypergammaglobulinaemia
- positive autoantibodies (ASMA +ve in 80%, ANA +ve in 10%)
- increased IgG in 97%
what is the management of autoimmune hepatitis
- immunosuppressants - prednisolone shows good response
- liver transplant if liver has cirrhosis (30% have at presentation)
what is primary biliary cirrhosis/cholangitis (PBC)
- immune damage of the small bile ducts
- granulomas may be present
- eventual bile duct and branch destruction
- treat with ursocleoxycholic acid - improve enzymes, reduce inflammation, decrease portal pressure
what is the presentation of PBC
- itching/fatigue
- dry eyes
- joint pains
- varicael bleeding
- ascites
- jaundice
What is primary sclerosing cholangitis
progressive cholestasis (reducing or stopping or bile flow) with bile duct inflammation and strictures
- over 50% have IBD
- presents - itching, pain, jaundice
list three causes of metabolic liver disease
- alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency
- wilsons disease
- haemochromatosis
what is the pathogenesis of haemochromatosis
- mutation in HFE gene
- autosomal recessive disorder
- leading to uncontrolled intestinal iron absorption with deposition in liver, heart and pancreas
- increased ferritin and transferring saturation
- iron removal may lead to regression of fibrosis
what is the pathogenesis of alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
A1AT is a glycoprotein made in the liver that controls inflammatory cascades
- inability to export it from liver
-can lead to liver disease (protein retention in liver)
-emphysema (protein deficiency in blood)
-cholestatic jaundice
treat with smoking cessation, vaccination against infection and transplant
what is wilsons disease
metabolic liver disease - rare inherited disorder (autosomal recessive)
- copper excretion with excess deportation in liver and CNS
- children present with liver disease and adults usually with CNS signs - tremor, dysarthria, dysphagia, dementia
- urine copper excretion high and increased on liver biopsy
- management - decreased copped diet, lifelong pencillamine, liver transplant
describe one vascular cause of liver disease, its presentation and treatment
- Budd-chiari - hepatic vein occlusion by thrombosis or tumour causes congestive ischaemia and hepatocyte damage
- presents as: ascites, acute liver failure, abnormal tests
- treatment - anticoagulation, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt transplant
what are the symptoms of alcoholic liver disease
- malaise
- anorexia
- D&V
- tender hepatomegaly
- jaundice
- bleeding
- ascites
what may be found on a blood test of a pt with alcoholic liver disease
- increased WCC
- decreased platelets (toxicity)
- increased INR (prothrombin time)
- increased AST
- increased GGT
- increased MCV
- increased urea
what is the management if alcoholic liver disease
- screen for infections and ascitic fluid tap
- stop alcohol consumption, for withdrawal chloradiazepoixide
- vitamin K iv
- optimise nutriton
- high protein diets
- steroids may confer benefit
what is NAFL/ NASH
NAFL - non alcoholic fatty liver - increased fat in hepatocytes (steatosis)
if inflammation also present = non alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH) in which inflammation also causes damage to cells ( increased LFT and ALT) - NASH can progress to cirrhosis
what are the risk factors and treatment for NAFL
- obesity
- hyperlipidaemia
- diabetes
treatment
-weight loss
-decreased alcohol consumption
how is hep B spread
- blood products
- sexual
- IVDU
how long is the incubation period of HepB
1-6 months
what are the signs of a hep B infection
- fever
- arthragia
- jaundice
- malaise
- nausea
- hepatosplenomegaly
what is in a hepB vaccine? what other management methods can be used
inactivated HBsAg (surface antigen)
- refer anyone with chronic inflammation or cirrhosis for anti viral
- avoid alcohol
- immunize sexual contacts
what are the tests for Hep B
HBsAg present 1-6 months after exposure
what type of virus is Hep C
RNA flavivirus
what is the treatment of Hep C
- inhibition of non structural viral proteins e.g sofofbuvir
- pegylated interferon injection
- ribacvarin for harder to treat genotypes
when can Hep D occur
in the presence of Hep B virus, increases the severity of infection
what is gastritis
inflammation of the lining of the stomach
what are the risk factors of gastritis
- alcohol
- NSAIDS
- H. pylori
- reflux/hiatus hernia
- granulomas e.g crohns
- CMV (cytomegalovirus)
what are the symptoms of gastritis
- epigastric pain
- vomiting
what are the tests for gastritis
- upper GI endoscopy
which organism most commonly causes peptic ulcer disease
- helicobacter pylori
- gram negative rod
- urease virulence generates ammonium that buffers stomach acid
- in absence of NSAIDS or zollinger- ellison syndrome 90% of duodenal ulcers are associated with helicobacter pylori
what is the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease by helicobacter pylori
- in antrum H pylori decreases somatostatin release by D cells - loss of inhibition of gastrin release
- G cells now produce more gastrin in the stomach
- increased gastrin = increased acid output
- in duodenum increases acidity leads to gastric metaplasia
- H. pylori then able to colonise duodenum and causes further damage
what are the investigations for peptic ulcer disease
- serology
- stool antigen for H.pylori (1st line)
- urea breath test
- endoscopy with urease test, histology and culture
what is the treatment peptic ulcer disease
- stop drugs causing dyspepsia e.g NSAIDS
- lifestyle changes (GORD)
- over the counter antacids e.g magnesium trisilicate
if no improvement test for H.pylori - if negative:
acid suppressants - PPI’s e.g lanzoprazole/omeprazole
for 4 weeks DU or 8 weeks GU
if positive:
- h pylori eradication drugs - amoxicillin +clarithryomycin
what is gastroenteritis
diarrhoea with vomiting due to enteric infection with viruses, bacteria or parasites
how can bacteria cause diarrhoea and give examples
- toxin production - bloody if shiga toxin producing e.coli (STEC), enterotoxigenic e.coli (ETEC) - travellers diarrhoea
- invasive - enteroinvasive e.coli (EIEC) - dysenteric
- adherent - enteropathogenic e.coli (EPEC) - attach and efface surface epithelium- infantile diarrhoea
which bacteria most commonly causes travellers diarrhoea
ETEC - enterotoxigenic e.coli
what are the features of c.dif infection and how is it diagnosed
- abdo pain
- watery diarrhoea
- increased WCC
diagnoses
- GDH screen in stool
- tissue culture cytotoxicity assay
what is the prevention and treatment of c.dif infection
prevention
- antimicrobial stewardship - limit use of cephalosporins, fluroquinolones
- effective cleaning of rooms with sporicidals
treatment
- metronidazole
- vancomycin for relapse
what is cholangitis and charcots triad of symptoms
and the treatment
- bile duct infection
- RUQ pain, jaundice, fever with rigors/increased WCC
- treatment -i.v antibiotics and fluids, ERCP and spinchterectomy for stone removal, may stent
what is acute cholecystitis, symptoms and treatment
- stone impactation in the neck of gallbladder
- RUQ pain, abdominal tenderness, fever, increased WCC
- treat with amoxicillin, pain relief, i.v fluids, early cholecystectomy
what is biliary colic, symptoms and treatment
- gallstones symptomatic with cystic duct obstruction or if passed into common bile duct
- RUQ pain
- analgesia, rehydrate, elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- do urinalysis, CXR and ECG
what are the symptoms of peritonitis
- pain, tenderness and guarding of abdo wall
- rebound
- rigidity
- fever
- nausea
- chills
- rigor
- dizziness
- weakness
- pyrexia
- tachycardia
- pts lie still - washboard rigidity
- lack of bowel sounds
- CXR - air under the diaphragm - perforated bowel
- serum amylase - pancreatitis
what are the causes of peritonitis
- surgical
- spontaneous bacterial peritonitis - complication of ascites in cirrhosis - e.coli, s.pneumoniae
- infection secondary to peritoneal dialysis with staph aureus
- PID - as a complication of STI
- TB
what percent of liver tumours are metastases? where can these metastases be from
90%
- breast, bronchus, GI tract
what are the symptoms and signs of liver tumours
- fever
- malaise
- anorexia
- weight loss
- RUQ pain
- jaundice late except for with cholangiocarcinoma
signs - hepatomegaly
- signs of chronic liver disease
- ascites/jaundice
what are the tests for liver tumours
- FBC
- CT to identify lesions and grade biopsy
- ERCP
- MRI
what are the causes of a hepatocellular carcinoma
- HBV
- cirrhosis
- NAFLD
- AIH
- anabolic steroids
what is the treatment/prevention of a hepatocellular carcinoma
prevention -HBV vaccine - dont reuse needles -screen blood treatment -transplant -resecting solitary tumours - tumour embolisation - sarafenib
what are the causes of cholangiocarcinoma
- flukes
- cysts
- HBV
- HCV
what are the patient symptoms and signs of cholangiocarcinoma
- fever
- abdo pain
- ascites
- malaise
- increased bilirubin
- jaundice
what is the management of cholangiocarcinoma
- 70% in operable at time of presentation
- palliative care
- prognosis about 5 months
what are the causes of liver failure
- infections - viral hepatitis, yellow fever
- vascular - budd chiari syndrome
- alcohol, FLD, PBC, AIH, a1 antrypsin deficiency, wilsons disease, malignancy
what are the signs of liver failure
- jaundice
- hepatic encephalopathy
- asterixis/flap
- construction apraxia - difficulty motor planning tasks
- fetor hepaticus - breath of the dead- portosystemic shunting allows thiols to pass directly into the lungs
what are the tests for liver failure
- FBC
- U+E
- clotting
- glucose
- CMV and EBV serology
- ferritin
- a1 antitrypsin
- cultures
- CXR
- ultrasound
what is acute pancreatitis
- self perpetuating pancreatic enzyme mediated auto digestion
- hypovolaemia as ECF trapped in gut
what are the causes of acute pancreatitis
Gallstones Ethanol Trauma Steroids Mumps Autoimmune Scorpion venom Hyperlipidaemia, hypothermia, hypercalcaemia ERCP + emboli Drugs