Intro to Liver Flashcards
What are the 8 functions of the liver?
Oestrogen level regulation
Albumin
Clotting factors
Storage (vits, Fe, Cu, fat)
Metabolism of carbs
Immunity (Kupfer)
Detoxification
Bilirubin metabolism
What disorders relate to oestrogen level regulation?
Gyneomastia
Palmar erythema
Spider naevus
What disorders relate to Albumin?
Ascites
Oedema
What disorders relate to clotting factors?
bleeding disorders
What disorders relate to storage eg. vits, fe, cu?
Wilsons disease
haematochromatosis
AIA def
What disorders relate to immunity?
SBP
What disorders relate to detoxification?
Hepatic encephalopathy
-accumulation of NH3, normally detoxified + excreted via urea cycle but crosses BBB & accumulates in CNS - causes confusion
What disorders relate to Bilirubin metabolism?
Jaundice
What test is done for liver function?
LFTs
What do LFTs test for?
What result is seen (high or low)?
Bilirubin (conj/unconj)- (normally mostly unconjugated) - HIGH
Albumin - LOW
Prothrombin time (PT/INR) - HIGH
What do the results for all these suggest?
Indicate liver damage
(these 3 relate directly to liver damage - v.specific)
Are Enzymes a specific indicator of liver damage?
Non specific to liver but high shows liver damage likely (as spilled out into blood)
What are the enzymes?
ALT (Alanine transaminase)
AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
Where are both these enzymes found?
Found mostly in liver, but also in heart, kidneys and muscles
What should the AST:ALT ratio typically be?
about 1
