Liver Flashcards
Key presentation of Acute liver failure
Jaundice! Malaise, confusion (hepatic encephalopathy!)
Other signs/symptoms of Acute liver failure
Fetor hepaticus
Asterix
Bleeding
Hypoglycaemia
Liver pain
Nausea
Anorexia
Ix Acute liver failure
Blood tests - INR > 1.5 seconds
Serum LFTs -
in acute, albumin is initially normal
all bilirubin is unconjugated
↑ AST, ↑ ALT
Grading hepatic encephalopathy
What is serum albumin a marker of?
Synthetic function
Useful to gauge severity of CHRONIC liver disease
What does Prothrombin time measure?
Mark of synthetic function
Due to short half-life, sensitive indicator of acute and chronic
Other than acute and chronic liver failure, what can cause a prolonged prothrombin time? When does this commonly occur?
Vitamine K deficiency
In biliary obstruction bc low conc of bile salts = poor absorption of vitamin K
Aminotransferases
Contained in hepatocytes
Leak into blood w/ liver cell damage
Other than the liver, where else can aspartate aminotransferase (AST) be found?
Heart, muscle, kidney, brain
When else can there be high levels on AST (other than liver failure)?
Hepatic necrosis
MI
Muscle injury
Congestive cardiac failure
Other than the liver, where else can alanine aminotransferase (ALT) be found?
More specific to the liver
When is there increased levels of ALT?
Rise only occurs with liver disease
Other than the liver, where else is Alkaline phosphate found?
Bone, intestine, placenta
When is there increased levels of alkaline phosphate?
Both intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestatic disease
Also hepatic infiltrations (e.g. metastases), cirrhosis
What colour is bilirubin?
Yellow
Dark urine, pale stool, itching? If yes then,
likely to be cholestatic
NOT pre-hepatic
Other Ix for acute liver failure
CT abdomen - to see if Budd-Chiari syndrome
CXR
Pregnancy test
Tx acute liver failure
Treat underlying cause
Treat complications!
How do you treat encephalopathy in liver failure?
Lactulose
How do you treat ascites in liver failure?
diuretics e.g. spironolactone
How do you treat cerebral oedema in liver failure?
Mannitol
How do you treat bleeding in liver failure?
Vitamin K
How do you treat sepsis in liver failure?
Abx
How do you treat hypoglycaemia in liver failure?
dextrose
DDx for acute liver failure
Severe acute hepatitis
Cholestasis
Haemolysis
Causes of acute liver failure
Viral A, B, EBV
Drugs
Obstruction
Vascular ischaemia
CHF
RF acute liver failure
Alcohol
Age
Poor nutrition
Pregnancy
Chronic hep B
Causes chronic liver failure
Viral B, C
Alcohol
Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis
Autoimmune conditions e.g. Autoimmune hepatitis, 1o biliary cirrhosis, Sclerosing cholangitis
Metabolic conditions e.g. haemochromatosis, Wilson’s syndrome
Vascular conditions e.g. portal hypertension
Key presentation of chronic liver failure
Ascites, Haematemesis, Oedema
Other signs/symptoms of chronic liver failure
Hepatomegaly!
Fetor hepaticus
Anorexia
Easy bruising
Itching
Jaundice, Confusion (rare)
1st line Ix Chronic liver failure
Serum LFTs -
good to gauge severity
falling serum albumin = bad sign
FBC
GS Chronic liver failure
Endoscopy
Ultrasound
CT scan/MRI
Other Chronic liver failure
Biopsy - if degree of inflammation is needed
Tx Chronic liver failure
Lifestyle modification - ↓ alcohol
Antivirals
Liver transplant!
When alcohol enters body, goes to liver and into hepatocytes. What are the 3 pathways it can take?
- Alcohol dehydrogenase
- Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1)
- Peroxisomal catalase
Describe the alcohol dehydrogenase pathway
ADH converts alcohol -> acetylaldehyde
∴ NAD+ is converted to NADH and produces ROS
3 stages of alcoholic liver failure
- Fatty liver
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
Describe fatty liver process
↑ Alcohol = ↑ NADH
NADH triggers cells to produce ↑ fatty acids
↓ NAD+ = ↓ fatty acid oxidation
∴ ↑ Fat production
∴ FATTY LIVER
Describe a fatty liver
Large, heavy, greasy tender liver
Yellow-ish due to fat deposits
Describe the process of alcoholic hepatitis
Acetylaldehyde can bind to compounds in cell and inhibit them
forms acetylaldehyde adducts, body recognises these as foreign
∴ immune response
∴ inflammation
ALSO, ROS causes lots of damage
∴ ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
What can you find during Alcoholic hepatitis?
MALLORY BODIES! (not specific tho)
Key presentation of Alcoholic liver failure
RUQ pain
Other signs/symptoms of alcoholic liver failure
Hepatomegaly
Ascites
Jaundice
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
1st line Ix alcoholic liver failure
LFTs - GGT and ALP ↑↑↑
↑ AST and ALT (AST:ALT, 2:1)
FBC - ↓ Platelets, hypoglycaemia
GS Ix alcoholic liver failure
Liver biopsy
Tx alcoholic liver failure
Stop drinking alcohol!! Usually enough to treat
If alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroids can be used
IV thiamine - prevents Wernicke-Korsakoff’s encephalopathy
Liver transplant - if severe
What can occur after alcohol withdrawal?
How would you treat this?
12-24 hours after - Delirium tremens
Presents w/ seizures, vomiting, headache, sweating, palpitations
Diazepam
Causes of liver cirrhosis
Alcoholic liver disease - common in HICs
NAFLD
Hep B, Hep C - common in LICs
Haemochromatosis
Wilson’s disease
A1AT deficiency
Describe the 2 types of liver cirrhosis
- Micronodular
Regenerating nodules < 3mm in size, uniform involvement
Often caused by alcohol or biliary tract disease - Macronodular
Varying size of nodules
Normal acini seen in larger nodules
Often caused by chronic viral hep
Key presentation of cirrhosis
Compensated - Asymptomatic, sometimes presents w weight loss, weakness, fatigue
Decompensated - Jaundice, pruritus, abdominal pain?
Other signs/symptoms of cirrhosis
Clubbing
Palmar erythema
Spider naevi
Leukonychia
Dupuytren’s contracture
Oedema
Xanthelasma
Bruising
1st line Ix Cirrhosis
LFTs - low albumin, long PT
Liver biochemistry -
↑ AST, ↑ ALT, ↓ Na+, alpha-fetoprotein
Ultrasound/CT - hepatomegaly
If liver is small = severe liver disease
MRI - detects tumours
What does low Na+ indicate with regards to liver disease?
SEVERE liver disease
If alpha-fetoprotein is present in liver biochemistry, what does this indicate?
Hepatocellular carcinoma
GS Ix cirrhosis
Liver biopsy
Describe the Child-Pugh classification
< 7 = best, > 10 = sign of bad prognosis
↑ Risk of variceal bleeding if > 8
Ascites, encephalopathy, ↑ bilirubin, ↓ albumin, long PT -> given 1-3 and added up to give score
Tx Cirrhosis
Treat underlying cause
↓ Salt intake/good nutrition
6 month ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma
What Tx should you avoid if you suspect a patient has cirrhosis? Why?
NSAIDs and aspirin
May cause GI bleeding/renal impairment
Complications of cirrhosis
Coagulopathy - ↓ in clotting factors II, VII, IX, X
Encephalopathy - liver flap and confusion/coma
Portal hypertension
What is NAFLD characterised by?
Fat deposited in liver cells which can interfere with function
Epidemiology of NAFLD
25% of population
3/4 of all obese people
Causes of NAFLD
Fat deposition in liver (insulin resistance)
3 of the following :
Obesity
HTN
DM
Hyperlipidaemia
Hypertriglyceridaemia
Describe the progression of NAFLD
Steatosis -> Steatohepatitis -> Fibrosis –> Cirrhosis
Key presentation of NAFLD
Usually no symptoms
Liver ache in 10%