Hepato-pancreato-biliary Flashcards
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
What is the natural course of alcoholic liver disease?
- Alcoholic fatty liver = build-up of fat in liver, reversible
- Alcoholic hepatitis = longer-term alcohol or binge drinking leads to inflammation in liver, if mild reversible
- Cirrhosis = liver replaced by scar tissue, irreversible but stopping prevents more
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
What is the clinical presentation of alcoholic liver disease?
- Jaundice + hepatomegaly
- Spider naevi
- Palmar erythema
- Gynaecomastia
- Bruising
- Ascites
- Caput medusae
- Asterixis
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
What investigations would you do in alcohol liver disease?
- FBC (raised MCV), deranged clotting
- LFTs
- USS liver = fatty changes early (increased echogenicity)
- Transient elastography (FibroScan) can check elasticity of liver to assess degree of cirrhosis
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
What would the LFTs show in alcoholic liver disease?
- AST/ALT ratio >2 (>3 suggestive of acute alcoholic hepatitis)
- GGT elevated
- Low albumin (reduced synthetic function)
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
What is the management of alcoholic liver disease?
- Stop drinking with ?detox regime, thiamine
- Pred often used during acute episodes of alcoholic hepatitis
- Referral for liver transplant in severe disease but abstain 3m before referral
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What is liver cirrhosis?
- Diffuse fibrosis + structural abnormality of the liver secondary to chronic inflammation
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What are the common and rarer causes of liver cirrhosis?
- Common = alcoholic liver disease, NAFLD, hepatitis B + C
- Rarer = A1AT, autoimmune hepatitis, PBC, haemochromatosis, Wilson’s, CF
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What are the features of compensated liver cirrhosis?
- Fatigue, anorexia
- Nausea, abdo pain
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What are the features of decompensated liver cirrhosis?
- Jaundice + hepatosplenomegaly
- Spider naevi, palmar erythema
- Gynaecomastia, ascites, caput medusae
- Asterixis
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What are some complications of liver cirrhosis?
- Portal HTN + varices
- Ascites + SBP
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Malnutrition
- Liver failure
- HCC
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What initial investigations would you consider in cirrhosis?
- FBC = raised WCC ?infection, low platelets (chronic liver disease), anaemia
- U&E for baseline renal function
- INR + clotting (coagulopathy)
- LFTs
- Hepatitis + CMV serology, auto-antibodies, A1AT, iron studies, caeruloplasmin
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What imaging might you consider to screen for cirrhosis?
- Transient elastography if hep C, men >50units/w, women >35units/w or Dx alcohol-related liver disease (biopsy if not suitable)
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What scoring system is used to assess the severity of cirrhosis?
What are the components to it?
- Child-Pugh classification
- Albumin, bilirubin, PT/INR, presence of encephalopathy + presence of ascites
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
What is the management of liver cirrhosis?
- USS liver + serum AFP every 6m to monitor for HCC
- Endoscopy if new cirrhosis Dx to look for varices
- Ultimate treatment = liver transplant
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is acute liver failure and how is it sub-divided?
- Rapid onset of liver dysfunction
- Hyperacute ≤7d, acute 8–21d, subacute >21d–26w
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What are some causes of acute liver failure?
- Paracetamol overdose, alcohol
- Hepatitis A/B/E, CMV
- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, NAFLD, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson’s
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is the clinical presentation of acute liver failure?
- Triad = encephalopathy, jaundice + coagulopathy (raised INR/PT)
- Hypoalbuminaemia > ascites
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What investigations would you do in acute liver failure?
- FBC, U&E, CRP, LFT (albumin), clotting
- Investigate cause (e.g., paracetamol levels, peritoneal tap, abdominal USS)
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What are some complications of acute liver failure?
- Most common = infection
- Bleeding = may need vitamin K and FFP
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatorenal syndrome
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy and how does it present?
- Ammonia accumulates in the circulation, crosses BBB > cerebral oedema
- 4 stages = altered mood/behaviour > drowsiness, confusion > asterixis > coma
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is the management of hepatic encephalopathy?
- First = lactulose (encourages nitrogenous waste loss through bowels)
- Second = rifaximin
- IV mannitol to reduce cerebral oedema
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is the management of hepatorenal syndrome?
- May need haemofiltration
- If need fluid resus, use human albumin solution
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What is the management of acute liver failure and the criteria?
- Treat underlying
- Liver transplantation based on King’s College Hospital criteria > paracetamol = arterial pH <7.3 after 24h, non-paracetamol = PT >100s
ASCITES
What is ascites?
How are the causes grouped?
- Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
- Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) from ascitic tap either >11g/L (indicates portal HTN) or <11g/L
ASCITES
What are some causes of ascites with a SAAG >11g/L?
- Liver disease #1 = cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, acute liver failure, liver mets
- Cardiac = RHF, constrictive pericarditis
- Other = Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic vein thrombosis), portal vein thrombosis
ASCITES
What are some causes of ascites with a SAAG <11g/L?
- Hypoalbuminaemia = nephrotic syndrome, severe malnutrition (Kwashiorkor)
- Malignancy/infections = peritoneal cancer, TB
- Other = pancreatitis, bowel obstruction
ASCITES What is a key complication of ascites? What is a common cause of it? How does it present? How is it diagnosed?
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- E. Coli
- Ascites, abdominal pain + fever
- Paracentesis = neutrophil count >250 cells/uL
ASCITES
What is the management of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
- IV cefotaxime
- Prophylaxis with PO ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin if previous SBP or cirrhosis + ascites protein ≤15g/L until resolved
ASCITES
What is the conservative and medical management of ascites?
- Reduce dietary salt + fluid restrict if Na <125mmol/L
- Aldosterone antagonists e.g., spironolactone ± adjuvant loop diuretic
ASCITES
What is the management of tense ascites?
What is a potential complication and how this is managed?
- Therapeutic abdominal paracentesis
- Large-volume >5L can lead to paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction > ascites recurrence, hepatorenal syndrome, dilutional low Na+ and mortality
- Cover with IV human albumin solution
ASCITES
What surgical intervention may be considered in ascites?
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
How are the causes of portal hypertension classified?
- Pre-hepatic = portal vein thrombosis
- Hepatic = cirrhosis #1 UK, schistosomiasis #1 worldwide
- Post-hepatic = Budd-Chiari syndrome
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
What is Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- Hepatic vein obstruction usually secondary to haem disorder like thrombophilia, polycythaemia
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
How does Budd-Chiari syndrome present?
How is it investigated?
How is it managed?
- Abdo pain (acute severe), ascites + tender hepatomegaly
- USS with doppler flow studies
- Anticoagulants
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
What are the clinical features of portal hypertension?
SAVE –
- Splenomegaly (decreased WCC + platelets)
- Ascites
- Varices
- Encephalopathy
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
What are varices?
Where do varices occur?
- Dilated veins at junction between portal/systemic circulation due to diversion of blood from increased pressure
- Distal oesophagus (UGI bleed), proximal stomach (Caput Medusae)
NAFLD
What is the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
- Thought to represent hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome + hence insulin resistance (T2DM) thought to be key mechanism
NAFLD
What is the spectrum of disease seen in NAFLD?
- Steatosis = fat in liver
- Steatohepatitis = fat with inflammation
- Progressive disease > fibrosis + liver cirrhosis
NAFLD
What are some associated factors with NAFLD?
- CVD risk factors = obesity, T2DM, high cholesterol + smoking
- Sudden weight loss/starvation
NAFLD
How does NAFLD present?
What initial investigations would you conduct?
- Asymptomatic, maybe hepatomegaly
- LFT = ALT typically > AST
- Non-invasive liver screen = hep B/C serology, autoAb, caeruloplasmin, A1AT, iron studies, USS liver (increased echogenicity)
NAFLD
After initial investigations, what other tests would you consider?
- Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) blood test to check for advanced fibrosis on incidental NAFLD Dx
- Transient elastography
NAFLD
What is the management of NAFLD?
- Mainstay of treatment is lifestyle changes, especially weight loss
VIRAL HEPATITIS
Give an overview of hepatitis A
How is it spread?
- RNA virus with 2–4w incubation period
- Faecal-oral, often from shellfish
VIRAL HEPATITIS
How may hepatitis A present?
Are there complications associated with hepatitis A?
- Flu-like prodrome, RUQ pain, tender hepatomegaly, cholestatic LFTs
- Does NOT cause chronic disease or increase HCC risk
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What is the management of hepatitis A?
- Supportive
- Vaccination prophylaxis = MSM, IVDU, chronic liver disease, travellers
VIRAL HEPATITIS
Give an overview of hepatitis B
How is it spread?
How may it present?
- Double-stranded DNA virus
- Blood borne (IVDU, sex, vertical transmission)
- Jaundice, fever, malaise
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What are the 4 main components to hepatitis B serology?
- Surface antigen = HBsAg
- Surface antibodies = anti-HBs
- Core antibodies = anti-HBc
- E antigen = HBeAg
VIRAL HEPATITIS
In terms of hepatitis B serology, what do the following show…
i) HBsAg?
ii) anti-HBs?
i) Ongoing infection + causes anti-HBs production, if present for >6m = chronic disease
ii) Immunity (exposure OR vaccine) is –ve in chronic disease
VIRAL HEPATITIS
In terms of hepatitis B serology, what do the following show…
i) anti-HBc?
ii) HBeAg?
i) Previous INFECTION, C = caught, not seen in vaccinated (IgM = acute/recent, IgG = persists after acute)
ii) Breakdown of core antigen from infective liver cell + so marker of infectivity
VIRAL HEPATITIS
In terms of hepatitis B serology, what would the following show…
i) previous immunisation?
ii) previous hep B >6m + not carrier?
iii) chronic hep B infection?
i) Anti-HbS +ve, others –ve
ii) Anti-HBc +ve, HBsAg –ve
iii) Anti-HBc +ve, HBsAg +ve
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What are some complications with hepatitis B?
- Chronic hepatitis (ground-glass hepatocytes on light microscopy)
- HCC
- Polyarteritis nodosa
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What is the management of hepatitis B?
- Pegylated interferon first line
- Anti-viral tenofovir second line
- Vaccination with inactive HBsAg (occupational, childhood vaccines, IVDU)
VIRAL HEPATITIS
Give an overview of hepatitis C
How is it spread?
- RNA virus
- Blood borne (IVDU, vertical, sexual)
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What are some complications of hepatitis C?
What is the management of hepatitis C?
- 75% > chronic (HCV RNA in blood >6m) = cirrhosis, HCC, arthritis
- Depends on viral genotype, usually combination of protease inhibitors like sofosbuvir ± ribavirin
VIRAL HEPATITIS
Give an overview of hepatitis D
How is it spread?
- Incomplete RNA virus which requires HBsAg to complete replication + transmission cycle
- Blood + bodily fluids
VIRAL HEPATITIS
What are some complications of hepatitis D?
What is the management?
- Superinfection (HBsAg +ve > Hep D) associated with high risk of fulminant hepatitis, chronic hepatitis + cirrhosis
- Complete prophylaxis if hep B vaccinated, interferon treatment
VIRAL HEPATITIS
Give an overview of hepatitis E
How is it spread?
What are some features?
- RNA virus
- Faecal-oral route
- Like hep A but significant mortality in pregnancy, does NOT cause chronic disease or increased HCC risk