Hepatobiliary Flashcards
Liver toxins: environment
cycad palms
amanita mushroom
aflatoxin
blue-green algae
Liver toxin: food
xylitol
Liver toxin: chemicals
heavy metal
arsenic
Liver toxins: drugs
acetaminophen, amiodarone, azathioprine, carprofen, corticosteroids, diazepam (cat, oral), diethylcarbamazine-oxibendazole, doxycycline, griseofulvin (cat), halothane, ketoconazole, lomustine, mebendazole, methimazole (cat), methotrexate, mitotane, nitrofurantoin, phenazopyridine, phenobarbital, stanozolol (cat), sulfonamides, tetracycline, thiacetarsamide, zonisamide
Liver infections: bacterial
lepto
mycobacterium tuberculosis
escherichia coli
clostridium perfringens
Liver infections: viral
canine adenovirus-1
Liver infections: fungal
blastomyces dermatitis
cryptococcus neoformans
histoplasma capsulatum
coccidioides immitis
Liver infections: parasitic
platynosomum fastosum
toxoplasmosis
schistosomiasis
migrating larvae
when can you see icterus?
serum bilirubin > 3 mg/dL (up to 5)
when can you see icteric plasma?
bilirubin > 0.5-1 mg/dL
what is the most common cause of ascites in liver disease?
portal hypertension, although decreased vascular oncotic pressure form hypoalbuminemia may play a role
causes of prehepatic portal hypertension?
increased resistance in extra hepatic portal vein; associated with mural or intraluminal obstruction (congenital atresia or fibrosis, thrombosis, neoplasia) or extraluminal compression; hepatic AV fistula
typical signalment & presentation of patient with prehepatic portal hypertension?
young
ascites
hepatic encephalopathy
causes of intrahepatic portal hypertension?
increased resistance in microscopic portal vein tributaries, sinusoids, or small hepatic veins. divided into presinusoidal, sinusoidal, post sinusoidal
ex: chronic hepatitis w/fibrosis or cirrhosis
most common cause of intrahepatic portal hypertension?
chronic hepatitis with fibrosis or cirrhosis
causes of post hepatic portal hypertension?
obstruction of larger hepatic veins such as post hepatic caudal vena cava or right atrium. ex) right heart failure, pericardial disease, pulmonary hypertension, Budd-Chiari syndrome
what is the protein content in prehepatic portal hypertension
low protein (<2.5 g/dL)
what is the protein content in pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension
low protein (<2.5 g/dL)
what is the protein content in post-sinusoidal portal hypertension
high protein (>2.5 g/dL)
what is the protein content in post-hepatic portal hypertension
high protein (>2.5 g/dL)
what is the protein content in sinusoidal intra-hepatic portal hypertension
could be high or low, more likely high (>2.5 g/dL)
toxins implicated in hepatic encephalopathy?
ammonia, aromatic amino acids, bile acids, endogenous benzodiazepines, gamma aminobutyric acid, glutamine, phenol, SCFA, tryptophan, decreased alpha-ketoglutarate, false neurotransmitters
why might chronic hepatic encephalopathy occur in cats?
hepatic lipidosis: cannot synthesize arginine in the liver, and depletion of arginine occurs w/prolonged fasting. arginine is necessary for completion of urea cycle; without it, ammonia detoxification is impaired
ALT half-life
dog: 48-60h
cat: 6h
AST half-life
dog: 22h
cat: 77 min
where is AST found?
liver, muscle, RBC
where is ALT found?
liver»_space;> muscle
pattern of CK increase after muscle injury
increases quickly, peak levels 6-12 hours post-injury
half-life is short, so decreases w/in 24-48h post injury
how much of AST is in mitochondria?
20%
why is AST less sensitive than ALT for detecting hepatic injury?
20% is in mitochondria
shorter half-life
why is AST less specific than ALT for detecting hepatic injury?
found in blood & muscle as well as liver
which of the following would cause the biggest increase in ALT? hepatic neoplasia, cirrhosis, hepatocellular necrosis & inflammation, biliary tract dz (obstructive), biliary tract dz (nonobstructive)
hepatocellular necrosis & inflammation
in acute liver disease, a decrease of XX% or more of ALT over a few days is considered a good prognostic sign
50%
what attaches ALP to cell membranes?
glucosyl phosphatidylinositol linkages
which liver enzyme has the lowest specificity for hepatobiliary dz?
ALP
in dogs, what is the sensitivity and specificity of ALP for hepatobiliary disease?
sens: 80%. spec: 51%
where is ALP found in the dog?
in descending order of how much: intestinal mucosa, renal cortex, placenta, liver, bone
plasma half life of L-ALP (dog & cat) & C-ALP (dog)
dog: L & C: 70 hr
cat: L: 6hr
in the cat, what is the sensitivity and specificity of ALP for hepatobiliary disease?
sens: 50%
spec: 93%
in what feline endocrine disease may B-ALP contribute significantly to elevations in ALP?
hyperthyroidism
in dogs, what is the sens & spec of GGT for hepatobiliary dz?
sens 50%, spec 87%
concurrent incr in ALP increase spec to 94%
in cats, what is the sens & spec of GGT for inflammatory liver dz?
sens 86%, spec 67%
how can GGT & ALP help differentiate type of liver dz in a cat?
hepatic lipidosis (underlying cause isn’t necroinflammatory): ALP relative to upper limit will be greater than magnitude of incr GGT. necroinflam liver dz: incr in GGT of greater magnitude than incr in ALP
hypoglycemia occurs after what % of liver function is lost?
75%
occurs d/t reduction of hepatic glycogen stores, gluconeogenesis, & clearance of insulin
hypoalbuminemia occurs after what % of liver function is lost?
70%
hyperalbuminemia has been reported in patients with what disease?
hepatocellular carcinoma
which globulins is the liver responsible for making?
alpha & beta
gamma-globulins come from B lymphocytes & plasma cells
how does cholesterol help you define type of liver dz?
hypo: end-stage liver dz
hyper: cholestatic liver dz
why do you see increase in globulins with PSS or decreased hepatic mass?
decreased filtration & clearance of toxins & microbial agents form portal circulation
why is there an increase in bilirubin with sepsis?
cytokines inhibit expression of hepatocyte transporters necessary for bilirubin transport
can occur w/o the presence of hepatobiliary dz
you can see hyperbilirubinemia with which artifacts?
hemolysis & lipemia
what % of cats with hepatic lipidosis have hyperbilirubinemia?
> 95%
how might an EHBDO affect feces?
absence of stercobilin = acholic feces
what is delta bilirubin?
bile duct obstruction - conjugated bilirubin in plasma binds irreversibly covalently with albumin (delta bilirubin); half-life is 2 weeks = can stay icteric for several weeks despite resolution of bile duct obstruction
patients with a congenital PSS are or are NOT likely to be icteric? why?
are NOT: bilirubin is not affected by abnormal liver perfusion.
bile acids are synthesized from what?
cholesterol (in the liver)
what hormone is the major stimulus for GB contraction? where does it come from? in response to what?
cholecystokinin, from the duodenal mucosa, in response to fat or protein in ingesta
what is the process of enterohepatic circulation?
GB contraction -> bile goes from GB to duodenum (to solubilize dietary lipids), then reabsorbed in the ileum & transported back to liver via portal vein, where 95% of bile acids are removed & process starts all over again
pre & post prandial bile acids are what % sens/spec for diagnosis of PSS?
99% sens, 95-100% spec
fasting alone: dog - 93% sens, 67% spec; cat - 100% sens, 71% spec
how can lipemia change bile acids?
false increase
what clin path abnormality can anorexic cats with liver disease get? why?
hyperammonemia: lack of arginine, which is an essential substrate for detoxification of ammonia in the urea cycle
hepatic dysfunction must cause a xx% reduction in urea cycle function in order for hyperammonemia to result
70%
sens/spec of elevated fasting ammonia for dx PSS?
sens 98%, spec 89%
describe the procedure for an ammonia tolerance test
give 2mL/kg of 5% NH4Cl deep into rectum. measure ammonia pre- & 20 & 40min post-administration
liver produces which clotting factors?
all except the von willebrand subtype of factor VIII
how does cholestasis affect clotting?
causes malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins (ie vitamin K)
which are the Vet K dependent clotting factors?
2 7 9 10 protein C protein S
most common coagulation abrnomality in cats with hepatobiliary dz?
increased PT
which clotting inhibitory proteins are produced in the liver?
antithrombin III, protein C, protein S
what is hypersplenism? it occurs secondary to what disease?
splanchnic pooling of blood can lead to prolonged capturing of platelets at their degradation site in the spleen -> thrombocytopenia
occurs secondary to portal hypertension
coag parameters associated with DIC?
low fibrinogen
thrombocytopenia
prolonged PT & aPTT
elevated FDP & D-dimers
what is protein C?
disulfide-linked glycoprotein molecular weight similar to albumin synthesized in liver circulates as plasma zymogen once activated, binds protein S -> together they exert anticoagulant effects by degrading factors Va & VIIIa
half life of protein C
6 hours
protein C less than XX% is common in patients with PSS but rare in MVD
70% (seen in 88% of PSS, 5% of MVD patients)
what CBC abnormalities are commonly seen with hepatic disease?
microcytosis (associated with impaired iron transport in patients with vascular abnormalities),
target cells,
poikilocytosis,
heinz body formation (cats),
anemia d/t hemorrhage from GI ulceration / coag disorder / anemia of chronic dz,
+/- mild thrombocytopenia
what UA finding in cats is specific for liver disease?
bilirubinuria (can also be seen with hemolytic dz)
why can dog urine have bilirubin in it normally?
low renal threshold for bilirubin excretion, and kidneys have enzymes needed to produce bilirubin from heme & to conjugate it
what crystals can be found in urine of dogs & cats with PSS? why?
ammonium biurate
due to reduced conversion of uric acid to allantoin & of ammonia to urea. ammonia & uric acid aggregate in acidic urine to form crystals
what breeds are associated with developing ammonium biurate crystals w/o hepatobiliary dz?
dalmation
english bulldog
possibly siamese cats
what UA finding might a patient with copper storage hepatopathy have?
fanconi-like: glycosuria w/normal BG, +/- proteinuria
due to copper accumulation in renal tubules
why do patients with hepatobiliary dz have a low USG?
loss of renal medullary hypertonicity d/t low BUN
impaired hormone metabolism: decreasing cortisol metabolism -> Cushing’s-like syndrome
psychogenic polydipsia
measurements from what imaging modality & view has the highest correlation with actual liver weight in dogs?
measuring right lateral abdominal radiographs
discuss CT versus AUS for diagnosis of PSS
CT-angio: sens 96%, spec 89%
CT-angio is 5.5x more likely to correctly determine presence/absence of cPSS than AUS
discuss technetium for diagnosing PSS
Tc-sulfur colloid: colloidal particles that localize in reticuloendothelial system. normal dogs - localize in liver. PSS - localize in lung. not specific for PSS. cats - lung uptake is normal
discuss per-rectal portal scintigraphy
normal - pertechnetate goes liver -> heart. PSS: bypass liver; goes to heart first.
trans-splenic portal scintigraphy: describe path of uptake
normal: spleen - splenic vein - left gastric vein - main portal vein - liver - hepatic sinusoids - hepatic vein - caudal vena cava - heart
can distinguish between portoazygous & portocaval/splenocaval shunts
what is glutathione?
tripeptide synthesized from L-glutamate, L-cysteine, & glycine
essentail antioxidant
stored in hepatocytes
why should care be exercised when giving stored RBC to dogs/cats with acute liver injury
ammonia concentrations can increase during storage
why are patients with acute liver injury sometimes vitamin K deficient?
cholestasis
where is copper found in primary copper hepatopathy?
centrilobular zone of liver
where is copper found in secondary copper hepatopathy? why does it accumulate?
periportal zone of liver; secondary to cholestasis
what is the pathophysiology of hepatic fibrosis?
chronic hepatic inflammation leads to activation of myofibroblasts including hepatic stellate cells & portal fibroblasts, which cause hepatic fibrosis. oxidative injury can also lead to hepatic stellate cell activation
what are the 4 groups of cholangitis, according to WSAVA?
neutrophilic, lymphocytic, destructive, and chronic cholangitis associated with liver fluke infestation
causes of acute canine hepatitis: infectious
canine adenovirus-1, leptospirosis, clostridium, canine monocytes ehrlichiosis (E canis)
causes of acute canine hepatitis: toxins
mycotoxin, aflatoxicosis, cyanobacteria (microcystin toxicosis - blue green algae), amanita mushrooms, xylitol, manganese overdose (joint supplement), alpha lipoid acid, organic solvents (CCl4)
causes of acute canine hepatitis: drugs
carprofen, acetaminophen, TMS, azathioprine, amiodarone, mitotane
symptoms of CAV-1
fever, lethargy, anorexia, cranial abdominal pain, melon, vomiting, diarrhea, chem - liver & kidney involvement, bronchopneumonia, conjunctivitis, photophobia, corneal opacity / blue eye d/t anterior uveitis & corneal edema
most commonly recognized infectious cause of acute hepatitis in dogs?
leptospirosis (interrogans or kirschneri)
how can you definitively diagnose amanita mushroom ingestion?
alpha-amanitin can be detected in liver tissue by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
In dogs and cats with hepatic inflammation, what are the 5 most common organisms cultured from bile?
E coli, enterococcus, bactericides, streptococcus, clostridium
which copper oxidation state is responsible for most of copper’s hepatotoxicity?
cupric (Cu2+)
what does COMMD 1 stand for?
copper metabolism gene MURR1- containing domain 1
name two copper-specific stains
rubeanic acid &rhodamine
why shouldn’t you give D-penicillamine and zinc concurrently?
D-pen will chelate zinc in the blood, reducing its effectiveness
what % of feline liver biopsies reveal inflammatory disease?
26% (45 of 175)
what is the most common liver disease in cats?
hepatic lipidosis
what is the proposed pathogenesis of neutrophilic cholangitis?
ascending intestinal bacterial infection
what is the most common liver enzyme affected in cats with cholantigis?
AST (98% have increase); ALT: 50-57% have increase, ALP incr in 14-48%, GGT variable; about 2/3 are hyperbilirubinemic
what test has higher specificity than enzymatic testing for liver dz?
pre- and post-prandial bile acids
discuss agreement between cytology & histopathology of feline liver
overall 51% agreement. inflammatory dz correctly diagnosed in 27%. vacuolar hepatopathy correctly diagnosed in 83%. Lymphoma may be misdiagnosed as hepatic lipidosis.
what is the most common organism in bile cultures?
E coli
What is the most common biochemical abnormality in cats with lymphocytic cholangitis?
hypergammaglobulinemia
which has a better prognosis? neutrophilic or lymphocytic cholangitis?
lymphocytic (795d versus about 1y)
what % of cats with solitary hepatic abscesses have polymicrobial infection?
> 50%
what are the intermediate / paratenic hosts for platynosomum?
lizards, terrestrial snails, isopods
what is platynosomum?
liver fluke
treatment for platynosomum?
praziquantel
when does a cat not shed platynosomum eggs?
complete bile duct obstruction
what is the fetal vessel that bypasses the hepatic circulation?
ductus venosus
what initiates closure of the ductus venosus?
blood pressure changes after umbilical venous flow ceases; thromboxane or various adrenergic compounds stimulate contraction of musculature of ductus venosus & may aid in vessel’s closure
what are the two main trophic hormones for hepatic growth? (i.e. the ones that the liver doesn’t get in a PSS)
insulin & glucagon
what toxins are implicated in hepatic encephalopathy?
ammonia; decreased alpha-ketoglutaramate; glutamine; aromatic amino acids; SCFA; false neurotransmitters (tyrosine/octopamine, phenylalanine/phenylethylamine, methionine/mercaptans); tryptophan; phenol (from phenylalanine & tyrosine); bile acids; gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); endogenous benzodiazepines
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for ammonia?
increased brain tryptophan & glutamine; decreased ATP availability; increased excitability; increased glycolysis; brain edema; decreased microsomal Na-K-ATPase in brain
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for decreased alpha-ketoglutaramate?
diversion from Kreb’s cycle for ammonia detoxification; decreased ATP availability
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for glutamine?
alters blood-brain barrier amino acid transport
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for aromatic amino acids?
decreased DOPA neurotransmitter synthesis; altered neuroreceptors; increased production of false neurotransmitters
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for SCFA?
decreased microsomal Na,K-ATPase in brain; uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, impairs oxygen utilization, displaces tryptophan from albumin, increasing free tryptophan
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for false neurotransmitters?
tyrosine -> octopamine; phenylalanine -> phenylethylamine; methionine -> mercaptans. impair norepinephrine action, synergistic with ammonia & SCFA; decrease ammonia detoxification in brain urea cycle; GIT-derived (fetor hepaticas - breath odor in HE); decreased microsomal Na,K-ATPase
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for tryptophan?
directly neurotoxic; increases serotonin: Neuroinhibition
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for phenol (from phenylalanine & tyrosine)
synergistic with other toxins; decreases cellular enzymes; neurotoxic & hepatotoxic
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for bile acids?
membranocytolytic effects alter cell/membrane permeability; blood-brain barrier more permeable to other HE toxins; impaired cellular metabolism d/t cytotoxicity
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for gamma-aminobutyric acid
(AKA GABA) neural inhibition: hyperpolarizes neuronal membrane; increase blood-brain barrier permeability to GABA
what is the proposed mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy for endogenous benzodiazepines?
neural inhibition: hyper polarize neuronal membrane
what % of hepatic blood & oxygen is provided by the portal vein? where does the rest of it come from?
80% of the blood and 50% of the oxygen; rest from hepatic arterial blood