GI - Chronic liver disease Flashcards
(4) chronological types of chronic liver pathology
- Advanced Liver Disease
- Chronic Liver Disease (CLD)
- Cirrhosis (clinical and histological meaning)
- End-stage Liver Disease (ESLD)
List (7) key functions of the liver
- Synthesis of clotting factors (except factor 8)
- Glucose homeostasis-gluconeogenesis, glycogen storage
- Albumin synthesis
- Conjugation and clearance of bilirubin
- NH3 metabolism- the urea cycle
- Drug metabolism and clearance
- Immune - dealing with gut derived bacteria and bacterial products
What are the (3) types of pictures of liver enzyme patterns?
- Hepatocellular injury or necrosis
–Elevation of transaminases - ALT and AST
–ALT predominantly from liver, AST from many sites
–Very high ALTs in acute viral hepatitis, acute drug toxicity, ischaemia - Intra or extra hepatic cholestasis
–Elevation of alkaline phosphatase (also produced in other tissues esp bone)
–Elevation of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
–High ALP, GGT with minor elevation of transaminases typical of biliary obstruction, liver infiltration, cholestatic reactions to drugs - Mixed picture
–Seen in many forms of liver disease eg alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease
How do you diagnose CLD?
- (4) symptoms
- (3) clinical signs
- (5) Ix
CLD may be suspected if risk factors present
•Symptoms: –Fatigue, weight loss (muscle) or gain (ascites) –Bleeding (haematemesis from varices) –Abdominal distension (ascites) –Confusion (encephalopathy)
•Clinical signs:
–Spider naevi
–Splenomegaly
–Jaundice
Ix: •LFT’s (may be normal) –Low albumin –Raised bilirubin –AST>ALT (AST not routine)
•Coagulopathy
–Prolonged INR (or high normal 1.2-1.3)
–Low platelets (or low normal, eg
What (3) do you look for on examination in chronic liver disease?
- Stigmata of chronic liver disease
- Signs of an underlying aetiology
- Signs of decompensation
What (7) are Stigmata of chronic liver disease?
- Clubbing (arterial hypoxaemia)
- Leuconychia (hypoalbuminaemia)
- Palmar erhythema (excess oestrogen/altered microvasculature)
- Dupuytren’s contracture (chronic liver disease due to alcohol)
- Parotidmegaly (alcoholism)
- Spider naevi (blanches on compression. Pathognomonic of cirrhosis if multiple)
- Gynaecomastia
What (4) can cause Dupuytren’s contracture?
- Chronic liver disease (alcohol)
- Manual labour
- Anti-epileptics
- Diabetes
How many spider naevi is abnormal and what does it indicate?
> 2 abnormal
pathognomonic of cirrhosis if multiple
(2) causes of gynaecomastia
- imbalance of estrogen:testosterone ratio
- secondary to medication e.g. spironolactone
Signs of DECOMPENSATION of chronic liver disease
- Jaundice
- Ascites/oedema
- Coagulopathy (reduced clotting factors, thrombocytopenia)
- Variceal bleeding
- Hepatorenal syndrome
What could cause jaundice?
- gallstones
- HCC
- portal vein thrombosis
Mechanism of ascites
Combination of reduced oncotic pressure (low albumin) + increased portal pressure
Ix of liver pathology
- LFT
- hepatitis A, B and C serology
- ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) for primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis
- ANA
- AMA (PBC), ASMA (anti-smooth muscle antibody), ALKM (anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody) for autoimmune hepatitis
- Ultrasound
Briefly describe the histological progression from F0 to cirrhosis (F4)
F0 = normal
F 1 = peri-portal fibrosis, no septa
F 2 = peri-portal fibrosis with a few septa
F 3 = numerous septa, no architectural distortion
F 4 = architectural distortion & nodule formation
What are the big 3 causes of liver pathology?
–HBV
–HCV
–Alcohol
What are the (3) autoimmune liver pathology?
–Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
–Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)
–Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
What are the (3) metabolic liver pathology?
–Haemochromatosis (iron overload)
–Wilson’s disease (copper)
–Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency