Hepatology Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver
PUSHDoG Protein Synthesis Urea Production (bile) Storage (ADEK, B12, Minerals) Hormone synthesis Detoxification Glucose and fat metabolism
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
what is the stepwise progression?
Fatty Liver (Steotosis)
Hepatitis (Inflammation)
Cirrhosis (scarred - irreversible)
Signs of Liver Disease?
Caput Medusa (engorged epigastric superficial veins) Hepatomegaly Asterixis Ascites Palmar erythema Spider Naevi (increased oestrogen)
Gynaecomastia (increased oestrogen)
Bruising (decreased clotting factors)
Jaundice
What is the Child Pugh Score and what are the 5 measurements?
Used assess the prognosis of chronic liver disease
1) Encephalopathy
2) Ascites
3) Bilirubin
4) Albumin
5) Prothrombin time prolonged by
Can get either 1,2,3 for each measurement
The AST/ALT ratio can be used to determine the likely cause of LFT derangement
What can the ratio tell us?
ALT > AST is associated with chronic liver disease
AST > ALT is associated with cirrhosis and acute alcoholic hepatitis
Common causes of chronic hepatocellular injury include:
Alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Chronic infection (Hepatitis B or C)
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Less common causes of chronic hepatocellular injury include:
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Wilson’s disease
Haemochromatosis
Causes of an isolated rise in bilirubin include:
Gilbert’s syndrome: the most common cause.
Haemolysis
Causes of an isolated rise in ALP include:
Bony metastases or primary bone tumours (e.g. sarcoma)
Vitamin D deficiency
Recent bone fractures
Renal osteodystrophy
The combination of the colour of urine and stools can give an indication as to the cause of jaundice:
What are they?
Normal urine + normal stools = pre-hepatic cause
Dark urine + normal stools = hepatic cause
Dark urine + pale stools = post-hepatic cause (obstructive)
Causes of unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia include:
Haemolysis (e.g. haemolytic anaemia)
Impaired hepatic uptake (e.g. drugs, congestive cardiac failure)
Impaired conjugation (e.g. Gilbert’s syndrome)
Causes of conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia include:
Hepatocellular injury
Cholestasis
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
Signs shown on blood investigations?
FBC - increased MCV
LFT - increased ALT, AST and particularly gGT
AST/ALT ratio >2
Decreased Albumin
Increased Bilirubin
Increased Prothrombin time
ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE
Acute Management?
Steroids Vitamin Replenishment (Thiamine)
Gold standard Imaging for diagnosing cirrhosis?
Liver biopsy
Signs of Alcohol withdrawal after:
6-12hrs?
12-24hrs?
24-48hrs?
72hrs?
6-12hrs - sweating, anxiety, tremor
12-24hrs- hallucinations
24-48hrs- seizures
72hrs- delirium tremens
Treatment of alcohol withdrawal?
Chlordiazepoxide
IV Pabrinex
Wernickes Encephalopathy triad?
Opthalmaparesis + Nystagmus
Confusion
Ataxia
Korsakoffs syndrome triad?
Psychosis
Confabulation
Amnesia (anterograde/ retrograde)
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
Signs?
Coagulopathy INR >1.5
Hepatic encephalopathy
Transaminitis (deranged LFTs) + Hyperbilirubinaemia
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
Main causes in europe and worldwide?
Europe - drug induced
Worldwide - Viral (Hep A,B,E)
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
first line imaging?
Ultrasound
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What does hyperammonaemia increase the risk of?
Cerebral Oedema
What is difference between ALF and ALI?
ALI has no hepatic encephalopathy
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
Who should receive emergency liver transplant?
Primary causes of ALF only
ACUTE LIVER FAILURE
What features should be investigated for?
Features of chronic liver disease as it could be first presentation of decompensated cirrhosis
How is HE tested?
normally clinical, however arterial ammonia and EEG can be completed
Treatment of HE?
1st - Lactulose (excretion of ammonia)
+ Rifaximin (reduce no of bacteria in gut producing ammonia)
What is normal ICP?
7-15mmHg
Ascites Treatment?
Aldosterone antagonists and loop diuretics Reduce salt intake Drain if tense (paracentesis) Prophylactic Abx (ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin)
What prophylactic Abx can be given for Ascites?
Ciprofloxacin/ Norfloxacin
Treatment of raised ICP?
Head elevation to 30 degrees
MANNITOL and Hypertonic SALINE
Removal of CSF
Features of raised ICP?
Headache. Blurred vision. Confusion. High blood pressure. Shallow breathing. Vomiting. Changes in your behaviour. Weakness or problems with moving or talking.
What is Cushings Reflex?
The Cushing reflex is a physiological nervous system response to acute elevations of intracranial pressure (ICP)
What is Cushings Triad?
Bradycardia
Widening pulse pressure (Increasing systolic and decreasing diastolic)
Irregular breathing
How does Fibrosis cause portal hypertension?
Fibrosis causes increased resistance in vessels leading into the liver = portal hypertension (portal vein)
Most common causes of liver cirrhosis?
ALD
NAFLD
Hep B
Hep C
Markers of synthetic function of the liver?
- Prothrombin time
- Albumin
Bilirubin
blood glucose
What should be measured every 6 months for people with liver cirrhosis?
Alpha fetoprotein tumour marker for Hepatocellular carcinoma + ULTRASOUND!
First line investigation in NAFLD/ Cirrhosis
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (blood test)
What does enhanced liver fibrosis blood test involve?
Measures 3 direct biomarkers of fibrosis
1) HA
2) PIIINP
3) TIMP
and then combines them to produce a result
What are the possible results from ELF test?
<7.7 mild/ no fibrosis
> 7.7 -9.8 = moderate fibrosis
> 9.9 = severe fibrosis
What may be found on US in a cirrhotic liver?
1) Nodules
2) Corkscrew appearance to arteries due to increased blood flow
3) Enlarged portal vein with reduced flow
4) Ascites
5) splenomegaly
what is transient elastography?
Fibroscan - measures stiffness of the liver
who should be screened for using Fibroscan?
people with hepatitis C virus infection
men who drink over 50 units of alcohol per week and women who drink over 35 units of alcohol per week and have done so for several months
people diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease
What should be carried out for patients with a new diagnosis of cirrhosis
upper endoscopy to check for varices
How should a cirrhotic patient change their diet
Low sodium
high protein
meals every 2/3 hours - high calorie
What is MELD score?
Uses a combination of a patient’s bilirubin, creatinine, and (INR) to predict survival in patients with cirrhosis
Treatment of stable varices?
Beta blockers (propanolol)
endoscopic variceal band ligation performed at two-weekly intervals until all varices have been eradicated. for medium to large varices
What is given alongside endoscopic variceal band ligation?
Proton pump inhibitor cover is given to prevent EVL-induced ulceration
What is the treatment of a bleeding variceal
1) Vasopressin analogues (Terlipressin)
2) Correct clotting (Vit K and FFP)
3) Prophylactic Abx (Quinolones - ciprofloxacin)
4) ENDOSCOPY - elastic band ligation or previously sclerotherapy
Last line treatment of variceal haemorrhage
TIPS - make connection between hepatic and portal vein to relieve pressure on portal system
Complication of TIPS?
Exacerbation of hepatic encephalopathy
Likely causative organisms for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis and the treatment?
E.coli Klebsiella
IV Cefotaxime
What is Hepatorenal syndrome and how is it caused?
1) Portal hypertension causing dilation of portal vessels and blood pooling
2) This causes hypotension in kidneys which activates RAAS
3) Vasoconstriction due to RAAS and low circulatory volume results in lack of blood to kidneys
4) lack of blood to kidneys results in rapidly deteriorating kidney function
Common associations with NAFLD?
OBESITY
type 2 diabetes
Sudden weight loss/ starvation
Stepwise development of NAFLD?
1) Steatosis
2) Steatohepatitis (NASH)
3) Fibrosis
4) Cirrhosis
Features of NAFLD?
usually asymptomatic
hepatomegaly
ALT is typically greater than AST
increased echogenicity on ultrasound
Investigations of NAFLD?
1st - ELF test
2nd - NAFLD fibrosis score
3rd - Fibroscan
What will NAFLD with advanced fibrosis be recommended
Liver biopsy to stage disease
What is PBC?
Primary Biliary Cholangitis which is the autoimmune inflammation of small bile ducts
Which ducts are inflamed in PBC?
Intralobular ducts / Canals of Hering
Clinical features of PBC
PRURITIS
FATIGUE
Jaundice - pale stools Hyperpigmentation RUQ pain (10%) Clubbing / Hepatosplenomegaly XANTHOMA/ XANTHELASMA (increased cholesterol)
What do PBC patients have a high risk of
HCC - 20 fold increase in risk
Treatment of Pruritis?
Cholestyramine
What age and gender is typical of PBC
middle aged females
Diagnostic investigations of PBC?
1) Anti - mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) found in 98% of patients
2) Increased serum IgM / ESR
3) Liver biopsy to stage
Management of PBC?
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Replenish Fat soluble vitamins