Jaundice and Chronic Liver Disease Flashcards
What are the major functions of the liver?
Synthesis
Filtration/detoxification
Immune function
Storage
What does the Liver synthesis?
Clotting factors Bile acids Carbs Proteins (albumin) Lipids (cholesterol) Hormones
What are the detoxifying roles of the liver?
Ammonia –> Urea
Drug detoxification
Metabolism of bilirubin
Breakdown of hormones
What does the liver store?
Glycogen
Vit A, B12, D, K
Cu, Fe
What are the LFTs?
Bilirubin Aminotransferases AlkPhos GGT Albumin INR/prothrombin time Creatinine Platelets
What is the pre-hepatic cause of elevated bilirubin?
Haemolysis
Impaired transport
What is the hepatic cause of elevated bilirubin?
Defective uptake
Defective conjugation
Defective excretion
What is the post-hepatic cause of elevated bilirubin?
Obstruction in biliary ducts
What is the pathway of bilirubin?
Haem metabolism
Sensecent RBC in spleen
Bound to albumin
Conjugated by the liver
What are the aminotransferases?
ALT, AST
Which is the most specific aminotransferase?
ALT
What does AST/ALT > 1 suggest?
ALD/liver damage
When is Alkaline phosphatase raised?
Obstruction or liver infiltration
Bone dis, pregnancy
How is Gamma GT used?
Elevated in alcohol, NSAID use
Can confirm liver source of raised ALP
What does Low albumin suggest?
Chronic Liver Disease
Kidney disease
Malnutrition (rare)
What does INR tell us?
Degree of liver disfunction
Staging liver disease
What does creatinine tell us?
Kidney function
Survival from liver disease
Need for transplant?
How does liver disease cause low platelet count?
Portal hypertension causing splenomegaly = hypersplenism
Symptoms of liver failure
Jaundice
Ascites
Varices
Hepatic encephalopathy
When is bilirubin detectable?
Plasma bilirubin > 34umol/L
What is the DDx for jaundice?
Carotenemia
Pre-hepatic jaundice will likely present with what?
History of anaemia
Acholuric jaundice
Splenomegaly
Pallor