Hepatology Flashcards
Steatosis =
infiltration of liver cells with fat
What pathologies can alcoholism lead to in the liver
Steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis
CAGE questionnaire
Do you feel you should cut down?
Do you feel annoyed when people criticize your drinking?
Do you feel guilty?
Do you ever have an eye opener?
Investigations in liver cirrhosis
LFT - esp GGT Albumin (decreased) coagulation FBC - increased MCV Platelets reduced U&Es IgA increased Increased cholestrol USS - liver Biopsy, if needed for extent of damage
clinical features of Wernicke’s encephalopathy
Confusion
Opthalmoplegia
ataxia
Oral thiamine should be given to?
Harmful or dependent drinkers
Blood tests for hepatocellular integrity
ALT/ AST
LSH - raised in liver mets and obstructive jaundice
GGT
Iron / ferritin - raised in liver disease
Jaundice can be divided into 3 forms
Pre hepatic
Intrahepatic
Post hepatic
Prehepatic jaundice is due to?
Haemolysis
Intraheptatic jaundice due to?
hepatocellular damage
In which type of jaundice is there bilrubinuria?
Intra and post
Post hepatic jaundice is due to?
Cholestasis
Disorders of excretion blood tests (cholestasis)
Bilirubin
ALP
Copper raised
Cholestrol
(all increased in cholestasis)
Tests for the synthetic function of the liver
Coagulation - prothrombin time and INR
liver screen
albumin
Which clotting factors are produced by the liver?
1,2,5,7,11 and 13
what tests are done in a liver screen?
Viral hepatitis CMV and EBV Autoantibodies Ig Ferritin Copper
USS of the liver
Imagining + option for the liver
USS CT MRI Angiography - vascular supply Nuclear medicine Liver biopsy
Define acute liver failure
Acute liver injury (reduction in hepatic function <6m due to hepatocellular death)
Causes increased INR and hepatic encephalopathy
3 main causes of acute liver failure
Infections
Drugs
Malignancy
Examples of infections causing acute liver failure
Hep A, B, E
Immunocompromised - EBV / CMV
Foreign travel - dengue fever
Drugs causing acute liver failure
Paracetamol
Cocaine
Iron overdose
Amoxicillin Rifampicin Isoniazid Phenytoin Valproate
“Other” causes of acute liver failure
AI
Wilsons
Ischaemia
Pregnancy related - acute fatty liver / HELLP
Important questions in acute liver failure hx
Recent new medication Travel hx Unprotected sexual contact IVUDs Prodromal illness
Blood investigations in acute liver failure
FBCs U&Es LFTs Albumin Coagulation Copper Glucose ABG Hepatitis screen Toxicology Auto antibodies Group and save Blood culture
Imaging in acute liver failure
USS
CT
Immediate treatment in acute liver failure
ABC IV access and fluid resuscitation N-acetylcysteine IV Vitamin support Discuss with local transplant centre Transfer to ICU if required
Monitor
INR - 6 hrly
Urine output and creatinine
Commonest mode of death in acute liver failure
Sepsis
Hepatic encephalopathy mainly due to the build up of?
Ammonia
Define fulimant hepatic failure
Sudden onset liver failure with hepatic encephalopathy within 2 weeks in a person with no underlying liver pathology
Precipitating event for hepatic encephalopathy
Infection GI bleed - high protein abs Dehydration Alcohol binge Metabolic disarray TIPS
Microbiology in hepatic encephalopathy
Blood cultures
Ascites tap
Urine dip
Imaging in hepatic encephalopathy
USS
CT
TIPS =
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
How to acutely treat hepatic encephalopathy
ABC
Fluids
Antibiotics
Treat the cause
Bloods in hepatic encephalopathy
FBC U&E LFT Coag CRP ABG Glucose Arterial ammonia
How to work out units
% x ml / 1000 x no. of days
Main cause of primary liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma (75%) and cholangiocarcinoma