hepatobiliary pathology (week 3)

Question 1

what can cause acute liver injury?

Answer 1

hepatitis (viruses, alcohol, and drugs)

bile duct obstruction

Question 2

describe the 3 pathways of bilirubin metabolism

Answer 2

1) breakdown of Hg in the spleen to haem then bilirubin

2) Up taken in the liver and excreted into biliary system

3) breakdown in intestine and reabsorbed

Question 3

what are the two causes of hepatic jaundice?

Answer 3

cholestasis - build up of bile in hepatocytes or bile canaliculi (caused by virus, drink, drugs etc)

intra-hepatic bile duct obstruction (tumours, primary sclerosing cholangitis ect.)

Question 4

what is primary biliary cholangitis?

Answer 4

Primary biliary cholangitis, previously called primary biliary cirrhosis, is a chronic disease in which the bile ducts in your liver are slowly destroyed.

auto-immune disease, affects women mostly, anti-mitochondrial auto-antibodies in serum

can also progress to cirrhosis

Question 5

what are the risk factors for gall stones and what do they consist of?

Answer 5

diabetes and obesity

cholesterol and pigment

Question 6

what can happen with acute cholecystitis?

Answer 6

can lead to empyema which can leak into the peritoneum and cause biliary peritonitis

recurrent episodes which can lead to chronic cholecystitis