Lecture 11: Diseases of the Liver Flashcards
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, malaise, and aversion to smoking are characteristic early symptoms of which viral infections?
HAV and HBV
What is the #1 risk factor for contracting HAV?
International travel
Detection of what antibody is an excellent test for diagnosing ACUTE HAV?
IgM anti-HAV
Glomerulonephritis, serum sickness, and polyarteritis nodosa are symptoms that may arise with what type of hepatitis viral infection?
HBV
Which labs may be elevated in HAV infection?
- Markedly elevated AST/ALT
- Elvated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase = Cholestasis
Which antibody indicates immunity/clearance of HBV?
Anti-HBs Ab
Persistence of what in the serum for >6 months after acute illness w/ HBV signifies a chronic HBV infection?
HBsAg
Which antibody appears during acute HBV infection and persists indefinetely?
IgG anti-HBc
Which subset of patients have shown chronic infections due to HEV with progression to cirrhosis?
Transplant pts treated w/ tacrolimus
If an unvaccinated person is exposed to HBV (i.e., during sex or at birth) what is the recommended therapy?
- Give hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) immediately up to 14 days post-exposure
- Also give them the vaccine (3 doses)
What is the most sensitive indicator of HCV infection?
HCV RNA
If a patient is found to have anti-HCV in serum, without HCV RNA in the serum what does this indicate?
Recovery from prior HCV infection
What is the effect of chronic HCV infection on serum cholesterol levels?
Decreased
What is the only marker found in the serum during the “window period” of HBV infection?
IgM anti-HBc Ab
Which hepatitis viruses can become chronic?
- HBV
- HCV
- HDV (w/ HBV)
Mixed cryiglobulinemia is an extraintestinal manifestation associated with chronic infection by which virus?
HCV
Which 2 tests can ID presence or absence of fibrosis (cirrhosis) in chronic hepatitis?
- Serum FibroSure and/or
- US elastography
What are 2 drugs associated with idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury?
- Isoniazid
- Sulfonamides
What are 2 common dose-depent causes of drug/toxin induced liver injury?
- Mushroom poisoning
- Acetaminophen
What is the specific therapy used in treating acetaminophen OD’s?
Important to check acetaminophen at what time period?
- Treat w/ sulfhydryl compounds (N-acetylcysteine aka NAC)
- Important to get a 4 hour acetaminophen level
How soon should therapy be administered for somone who ingests a toxic dose of acetaminophen?
Within 8 hours, but may be effective if given as late as 24-36 hrs after OD
Which tool is used during the assessment/treatment of someone with a suspected Acetaminophen OD?
Rumack-Matthew Nomogram
Massive hepatic necrosis with impaired consciousness occuring within 8 weeks of the onset of illness is known as?
Fulminant Hepatitis
What are the findings that when summed together equal hepatic failure with encephalopathy?
What is occuring to levels of aminotransferases?
- Rapidly shrinking liver + Rapidly rising bilirubin + marked prolongation of the PT + clinical signs of confusion, disorientation, somnolence, ascites, and edema
- Even as aminotransferase levels fall!
The intake of what should be restricted in a patient with hepatic failure + encephalopathy?
Protein
Which drugs should be administered in someone suffering from hepatic failure w/ encephalopathy?
Lactulose or Neomycin
Meticulous intensive care + _____________ = one factor that improves survival in patients with hepatic failure + encephalopathy?
Prophylactic antibiotic coverage
Which 2 values are used to calculate a Maddrey’s discriminant function?
Used in which patients to assess what?
- PT and serum bilirubin
- Used to assess risk of mortality in pts with alcoholic hepatitis
Which calculated value associated w/ a Maddrey’s discriminant function indicates a poor prognosis in pts with alcoholic hepatitis?
≥32
A score of what calculated using the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is associated w/ significant mortality in alcoholic hepatitis?
>21
Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score predicts mortality using which 5 factors?
Patients receiving which drug and a score of ≥9 have higher survival rates than those who didn’t?
- Age, Serum bilirubin, BUN, PT, and peripheral WBC count
- ≥9 who received glucocorticoids
In patients with alcoholic steatosis what may be the only laboratory abnormality?
Mild liver enzyme elevations
Leukocytosis with a shift to the left is common in patients in which stage of alcohol related liver damage?
Severe alcoholic hepatitis
A liver biopsy of a patient with alcoholic hepatitis will often have identical findings of what other disorder?
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
What are the serum levels of AlkPhos, GGT, and bilirubin like in a patient with alcoholic hepatitis?
Typically elevated
If glucose is administered during the treatment of somone with alcoholic hepatitis what must be added?
Thiamine –> can precipitate Wernicke-Korsakoff if not given
A patient with alcoholic hepatitis should be given what supplements during treatment?
- Thiamine
- Daily MV
- Folic acid
- Zinc
Wernicke Encephalopathy vs. Korsakoff Syndrome?
Wernicke = confusion, ataxia, and involuntary eye movements
Korsakoff = severe memory issues, confabulation/making up stories
With severe alcoholic hepatitis (discriminant function ≥32 or MELD >20) what therapy should be considered?
What is an alternative to this therapy and has demonstrated improved survival (decreased hepatorenal syndrome)?
- Steroids
- Pentoxifylline = has demonstrated improved survivial (decreased hepatorenal syndrome)
What is absolutely critical for a patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis to do if they are to be considered for a liver transplant?
Abstain from alcohol for 6 months
Which ethnic group are at increased risk for NAFLD?
Hispanics
What are 2 factors that protect against the development of NAFLD?
1) Coffee
2) Exercise
Which toxin is associated with fatty liver change?
Vinyl chloride
What is the histological characteristic of NAFLD?
Focal infiltration by PMN’s and Mallory hyaline
Cirrhosis caused by NASH appears to be uncommon in which ethnic group?
African Americans
Lab values in person with NAFLD?
- Mildly elevated Aminotransferase and AlkPhos
- 80% of patients with hepatic steatosis will have normal labs!
Most common signs and symptoms of PBC?
- Pruritus
- Fatigue
- Progressive jaundice
- Xanthelasma
What are 4 relevant pieces of someones hx that are risk factors for PBC?
1) UTI’s (caused by E. coli or L. delbrueckii)
2) Smoking
3) Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy
4) Hair dye
Autoimmune hepatitis is associated with an increased risk for what cancer?
Heptaocellular CA
Which drug is used for the treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis?
Glucocorticoids
Hemochromatosis typically manifests when?
After the age of 50
Major clinical manifestations of Hemochromatosis?
- Hepatic abnormalities –> Cirrhosis
- Heart failure
- Hypogonadism
- Arthritis
Patients with Hemochromatosis are at an increased risk for infection by what 3 organisms?
- Vibrio vulnificus
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Yersinia enterocolitica
What are the major lab findings associated with Hemochromatosis?
- Mildly abnormal liver tests (ALT, AlkPhos)
- Elevated plasma iron w/ GREATER than 45% transferrin saturation
- Elevated serum ferritin
What are 3 risk factors for advanced fibrosis in a patient w/ Hemochromatosis?
- Male sex
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Diabetes
Iron studies and HFE testing should be done in whom?
ALL first-degree family members
What should patients with Hemochromatosis avoid in their diet?
- Foods rich in iron (i.e., red meat) + iron supplements
- Alcohol
- Vitamin C
- Raw shellfish