Hepatitis and Cirrhosis Flashcards
LFTs?
Enzymes
- aminotransferases: ALT & AST
- AP
- GGT
synthetic fxn:
- serum albumin
- PT
Bili
What are impt hx ?s to ask if you are concerned about liver disease?
- exposure to chemicals, meds, herbs
- accompanying sxs
- parenteral exposure
- IV and intranasal drug use
- tattoos and piercings
- sexual activity
- travel and exposure hx
- ETOH hx
PE findings that suggest liver disease?
- cachexia: malnourishment (drinks a lot, drug user)
- stigmata of longstanding liver disease
- signs of alcoholic liver disease: acutely - large, if cirrhotic - small
- enlarged L supraclavicular node - HCC
- JVP suggests RHF secondary portal HTN
- R pleural effusion in absence of advanced ascited can be seen in cirrhosis (this can cause portal HTN)
What is autoimmune hepatitis? Type 1 and type 2?
- chronic hepatitis: pp isn’t well understood
type 1 (classic): occurs in women of all age groups
type 2 (ALKM-1): occurs in girls and young women - characterized by circulating autoabs (not thought to be part of pp)
- high levels of serum globulin concentrations
Clinical manifestations of autoimmune hepatitis?
- can be asx
- subclinical and those presenting with advanced cirrhosis
- fulminant hepatitis
- labs:
presence of serological markers
generally aminotransferases more elev than bili and AP
Extrahepatic manifestations of autoimmune hepatitis?
- hemolytic anemia
- thyroiditis
- celiac sprue
- ITP
- DM I
- UC
(all of these are autoimmune)
Tx of autoimmune hepatitis?
- corticosteroids for sx disease
risks/complications of steroids: - short term: HTN, high glucose, psychosis, insomnia, gastric irritation
- long term: osteoporosis, cataracts, PUD, immunosuppression
- azathioprine - 2nd line agent
What is hemachromatosis?
- genetic disease due to autosomal recessive
- identified gene: HFE
- most common single gene disorder:
10% caucasians heterozygous
0.5% caucasians homozygous
very rare in other pops
PP of hemochromatosis?
- gene defect results in increased iron absorption in the intestinal tract from the diet
- iron overload in the body
- eventual fibrosis and organ failure:
cirrhosis
cardiomyopathy
diabetes
hypogonadism
Hematochromatosis - iron overload in the body? Why do females have delayed sxs?
- normal Fe: 3-4 mg/day
- normally Fe storage is controlled so there is no excess accumulation
- accum of 500-1000 mg/yr occurs in hemochromatosis
- sxs usually occur around age 40 or when Fe stores reach 15-40 g
- females have delayed sxs b/c of menstruation and breast feeding
Clinical manifestations are influenced by what factors?
Classic presentation?
influenced by:
- age
- sex
- alcohol use
- dietary iron
- menstruation and breast feeding
- unkown factors
- alcohol abuse and hep C accelerate the process
- classic presentation: cutaneous hyperpigmentation w/ diabetes and cirrhosis
Reversible manifestations of hemochromatosis?
- CV:
infections - cardiomyopathy (vibrio vulnificus)
conduction of disturbances
(monocytogenes)
- Liver: pastcuerlla pseudotubercullosis: abdominal pain, elevated LFTs, hepatosplenomegaly - skin: bronzing (melanin deposition) grayness (Fe deposition)
- listeria
Irreversible manifestations of hemochromatosis?
- liver: cirrhosis, HCC
- anterior pituitary gland: gonadotropin insufficiency- hypogonadism
- pancreas: DM (30-60%)
- thyroid: hypothyroidism
- genitalia: primary hypogonadism
- jts: pseudogout
Dx hemochromatosis?
- combo of:
clinical
lab: elevated serum transferrin sat of more than 45%, elevated serum ferritin (this is pathologic) - confirmation = gold std = liver bx (also defines extent of disease)
Tx hemochromatosis?
- education for evidence of iron overload/complications: avoid red meat, Fe supps avoid ETOH avoid handling or eating raw seafood (increased risk of infections) receive vaccinations for Hep A and B - mainstay of tx: phlebotomy: removing 500 ml of blood removes 250 mg iron - do weekly until iron depletion: Hgb = 10-12 gm/dl ferritin less than 50 transferritin sat is less than 50% - maintenance: phlebotomy q 2-4 months
Genetic testing for hemochromatosis?
- screen 1st degree relatives, unless under 18
- likely to uncover homozygotes who are asx
- screening test cost: $200, done on whole blood sample
What is Wilson’s disease?
- hepatolenticular degeneration
- autosomal recessive
- affects copper metabolism
- organ damage due to copper build up in liver and brain
- easily tx if dx early
- difficult to dx
Epidemiology and pathogenesis of Wilson’s disease?
- occurs worldwide: prevalence - 1/30,000 live births
- 1/90 persons carry the abnormal gene ATP7B
- pathogenesis:
gene affects the carrier protein of copper which is primarily in hepatocytes - it also impairs the excretion of copper via bile
Clinical manifestations of Wilson’s?
- presentation varies widely and is often non-specific
- generally presents b/t 1st-3rd decade:
liver disease (usually presenting sx in young kids)
neuro sxs
psych sxs
Dx and prognosis of Wilson’s
- dx:
ceruoplasmin level
24 hr urine for copper excretion
look for kayser fleischer rings in eyes - prognosis:
universally fatal if left untx
once dx chelation therapy with D-penicillamine is toc (lifelong)
What are the 3 stages of alcoholic liver disease?
- fatty liver (steatosis)
- alcoholic hepatitis
- alcoholic fibrosis and cirrhosis
Fatty liver - etiology, presentation, labs?
- most pts are asx
- can occur w/in hours of large alcohol binge and if continues to drink - it can progress
- may have tender hepatomegaly
- transaminases mildly elevated
- can also occur in obese individuals and pregnancy
alcoholic hepatitis presentation?
- asx to extremely ill
- anorexia, N/V, wt loss, abdominal pain, poor nutritional status
- HSM
- jaundice
fever is common
PE of alcoholic hepatitis?
- spider angiomas
- palmar erythema
- gynecomastia
- parotid enlargement
- testicular atrophy
- ascites
- encephalopathy