Hepatitis & Cirrhosis Flashcards
Liver Function tests
Enzyme tests? 3
Synthetic Function? 2
Other? 1
Enzyme tests:
- Aminotransferases—ALT & AST
- Alkaline phosphatase—AP
- Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase—GGT
Synthetic function:
- Serum albumin
- PT—prothrombin time
Other
- Bilirubin
History, History, History
for Liver problems?
8
- Exposure to chemicals, meds, herbs
- Accompanying symptoms
- Parenteral exposure
- IV and intranasal drug use
- Tattoos and piercings
- Sexual activity
- Travel and exposure history
- Alcohol history
Physical Exam
for liver problems?
6
- Cachexia suggests malnutrishment - drinking or drug use
- Stigmata of longstanding liver disease
- Signs of alcoholic liver disease
- Enlarged left supraclavicular node- Cancer
- JVP suggests RHF secondary to portal HTN
- Right pleural effusion in the absence of advanced ascites can be seen in cirrhosis
Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Two types?
- Characterized by what? 2
1.
- Type 1 (Classic): occurs in women of all age groups
- Type 2 (ALKM-1): occurs in girls and young women
2. Characterized by - circulating autoantibodies (not thought to be part of the pathophysiology)
- High levels of serum globulin concentrations
Histopathology Autoimmune Hepatitis

Clinical Manifestations of Autoimmune Hepititis? 3
Labs? 2
Clinical Manifestations
- Asymptomatic
- Subclinical and those presenting w/ advanced cirrhosis
- Fulminant hepatitis
Labs:
- Presence of serological markers
- Generally aminotransferases more elevated than bilirubin and AP
Extrahepatic Manifestations of autoimmune anemia?
6
- Hemolytic anemia
- Thyroiditis
- Celiac sprue
- ITP
- Type I DM
- Ulcerative colitis
ALL of these tend to be AUTOIMMUNE
- Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis?
- Acute risks and complications with steriods? 5
- Long term risks? 6
- 2nd line?
- Corticosteriods for sympatomatic disease
2.
- HTN
- high blood sugar,
- psychosis,
- insomnia
- gastric irritation
2.
- Clouding of the lens in one or both eyes (cataracts)
- High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes
- Increased risk of infections
- Thinning bones (osteoporosis) and fractures
- Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production
- Thin skin, bruising and slower wound healing
3. Azathioprine a 2nd line agent
- Hemachromatosis is what?
- What gene?
- Genetic disease due to autosomal recessive
- Identified gene HFE
Most common single gene disorder:
10% Caucasians heterotozygous
0.5% Caucasians homozygous
Very rare in other populations
Hemochromatosis–Pathophysiology
- Gene defect results in what?
- What does this cause?
- Eventual fibrosis & organ failure leads to what? 4
- Gene defect results in increased iron absorption in the intestinal tract from the diet
- Iron overload in the body
3.
- Cirrhosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Diabetes
- Hypogonadism
Iron Overload
- Normal iron content in the body?
- Normally iron storage is controlled so there is no what?
- Accumulation of _______ mg/yr. of iron occurs in hemochromatosis
- Symptoms usually occur when? 2
- Females have delayed symptoms because of what? 2
- 3-4 mg /day
- no excess accumulation
- 500-1000 mg/yr.
4.
- around age 40
- when iron stores reach 15-40 g!
5.
- menstruation
- breast feeding
Hemochromatosis Clinicical Manifestations are influenced by?
6
- Age
- Sex
- Alcohol use
- Dietary iron
- Menstruation & breast feeding
- Unknown factors
- Hemochromatosis is accelerated by what? 2
- Classic presentation?
1.
- Alcohol abuse &
- hepatitis C accelerate the process
2. Classic presentation: - cutaneous hyperpigmentation w/ diabetes & cirrhosis

Reversible Manifestations of hemachromatosis?
- CV? 2
- Liver? 3
- Skin? 2
- Infections? 3
- CV:
- Cardiomyopathy
- conduction disturbances - Liver:
- abdominal pain
- elevated LFTs
- hepatomegaly - Skin:
- bronzing (melanin deposition)
- grayness (iron deposition) - Infections:
- Vibrio vulnificus
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Pastcuerlla pseudotubercullosis
Irreversible Manifestations of Hemacromatosis
- Liver? 2
- Anterior pituitary gland?
- Pancreas?
- Thyroid?
- Genitalia?
- Joints?
- Liver: : cirrhosis, hepatocellular CA **
- Anterior pituitary gland: gonadotropin insufficiency leading?
- Pancreas: diabetes mellitus (30-60%)
- Thyroid: hypothyroidism
- Genitalia: primary hypogonadism
- Joints: pseudogout
Diagnosis of Hemochromatosis
Combination of?
3
- Clinical
- Laboratory
- Pathologic
Diagnosis of Hemochromatosis
- Laboratory? 2
- Gold Standard?
1.
- Elevated serum transferrin saturation > 45%**
- Elevated serum ferritin
2. -Confirmation = ‘Gold Standard’ = liver biopsy (also defines extent of disease)
Treatment of Hemacromatosis
- Education for evidence of iron overload/complications? 4
- Mainstay of treatment?
- Education for evidence of iron overload/complications:
- Avoid red meat, iron supplements
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid handling or eating raw seafood (increased risk of infections)
- Receive vaccinations for hepatitis A & B - Mainstay of treatment–Phlebotomy
Hemacromatosis Phlebotomy
- Removal of 500 ml of blood removes ______mg Iron
- Do weekly until iron depletion:
Hgb = ?
Ferritan ?
Transferritin saturation ?
- Maintenance: ?
- 250
- Do weekly until iron depletion:
Hgb = 10 – 12 gm/dL
Ferritan < 50
Transferritin saturation < 50%
- Maintenance: phlebotomy every 2-4 months
Hemacromatosis Genetic Testing
- Screen who?
- Likely to uncover who?
- Screening test cost: ?
- Screen 1st degree relatives unless under 18 YO
- Likely to uncover homozygotes who are asymptomatic
- Screening test cost: $200; done on whole blood sample
Wilson’s Disease
- aka?
- Inheritated how?
- Affects what kind of metabolism?
- Organ damage due to what?
- Easily treated if what?
- a.k.a. “hepatolenticular degeneration”
- Autosomal recessive
- Affects copper metabolism
- Organ damage due to copper build up in the liver and brain
- Easily treated if diagnosed early
- Difficult to diagnose!!!
Pathogenesis of
Wilson’s Disease
2
Pathogenesis:
- The abnormal gene ATP7B affects the carrier protein of copper which is primarily in hepatocytes
- It also impairs the excretion of copper via bile
Wilson’s Disease Clinical manifesations?
- Presents when?
- What kind of symptoms? 3
Presentation varies widely and is often non-specific
- Generally presents between the 1st and 3rd decade:
2.
- Liver disease (usually presenting sx in young children)
- Neurologic symptoms
- Psychiatric symptoms
Wilson’s disease
Dx? 3
Tx? 1
Prognosis?
DIAGNOSIS:
- Ceruoplasmin level
- 24-hour urine for copper excretion
- Look for Kayser-Fleischer rings in eyes
Tx:
- Once diagnosed chelation therapy w/ D-penicillamine is the treatment of choice (lifelong)
PROGNOSIS:
Universally fatal if untreated









