Hepatology Flashcards
(171 cards)
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