Liver Flashcards
Metabolic functions of the liver
Carbohydrate metabolism - Gluconeogenesis Glycolysis Glycogenesis Glycogenolysis Fat metabolism and synthesis of - Cholesterol and triglycerides Lipoproteins Phospholipids Ketogenesis (In starvation) Protein metabolism - Transamination and deamination of amino acids Convert amino acids into urea
Hormonal metabolism in the liver
Degradation of - Insulin, glucagon, ADH, steroid hormone Activation - Deiodination of thyroxine T4 to more active triodothronine T3 Vitamin D3 to 25(OH)D
Storage function of liver
Stores vitamin A, D, E, K, B12
Coagulation of factor II, VII, IX and X. protein C & S
Synthesis of plasma proteins (albumin)
Which factors require post translational modifciation by vitamin K dependant - carboxylation
2, 7, 9 10
Protective function of liver
Kupffer cells (liver phagocytes) that digest/destroy cellular debris (RBCs) and invading bacteria Produce immune factors
Detoxification function of liver
Endogenous substances - Make sure proteins of haemolyses are detoxified, bilirubin
Exogenous substances - Drugs, alcohol
Where is bile stored between meals
Gallbladder, sphincter of Oddi is closed
What stimulates secretion of bile
Chyme on duodenum stimulates release of CCK from enteroendocrine or I cells in duodenum sense the presence of lipids. Sphincter of Oddi opens and gall bladder contracts to release bile into the duodenum.
How is bile concentrated
By removal of Cl- and water.
Cause of cholelithiasis
Excess cholesterol relative to bile results in acids and lecithin being precipitated into micro crystals that aggregates to galls stones
pH of bile
Slightly alkaline to neutralize acidic chyme from stomach. Also allows intestinal enzymes to function at their optimum pH.
Primary bile acids vs secondary bile acids
Primary bile acids - Cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids
Secondary - Deoxycholic and Lithocholic acids
How is primary bile acid converted to secondary
Hepatocytes release primary bile juice into the bile canaliculi which drains into the bile duct via cystic duct. This enters the duodenum. Intestinal bacteria dehydroxylate primary bile acids to form secondary bile acids. These acids are reabsorbed across intestinal wall and taken back to the liver where they can be re-secreted into the bile.
What gives faeces brown appearance
Bilirubin, dark urine and pale stool can indicate poor liver function
Composition of bile
Bile acids mainly cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid, water and electrolytes, lipids/phospholipids. cholesterol, IgA, bilirubin
Most common pathology of biliary tract
Cholelithiasis
Treatment for symptomatic stones
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Treatment for unimpaired gallbladder function having small/medium sized radiolucent stones
Ursodeoxycholic acid
What stones may be radiolucent and not detectable by x-ray
Large stone made up of purely cholesterol
How can morphine worsen biliary colic pain
Morphine constricts the sphincter of Oddi, increasing intrabiliary pressure and making the pain worse. Atropine may be administered together to make the pain better
Alternatives to morphine in biliary colic
Buprenorphine and pethidine
What is biliary colic
Gallbladder/gallstone attack is pain due to a gallstone blocking the bile duct
Treatment for relief of biliary spasm
Atropine or Glyceryltrinitrate (GTN)
Transporters involved in reabsorption of bile salts
Active transport in the ileum by hepatocytes via Na coupled transport. Enterohepatic recycling takes place
What synthesized more bile if too much is lost in faeces
Cholesterol
What are bile acid sequestrants
Group of resins used to bind to certain components of bile in GI tract. They disrupt enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and prevent reabsorption
Examples of bile acid sequestrants
Colesevelam, colestipol and colestyramine. These prevent reabsorption of bile thereby promoting hepatic conversion of cholesterol into bile acid, leading to a lowered plasma cholesterol.
What does hepatic conversion of cholesterol into bile acids cause
Increase in LDL-receptor activity of hepatocytes increasing clearance of LDL-cholesterol from plasma
Use of bile acid sequestrants
Hyperlipidemia, cholestatic jaundice (depleting cholesterol leads to less cholesterol available to be precipitated out to form gallstones), bile acid diarhoea (eliminate bile acids from body)
Drawbacks of bile acid sequestrants
Unpalatable, inconvenient (large doses needed), diarrhoea, deficiency of fat soluble vitamins due to reduced absorption
What does drug metabolism act to do
Convert parent drug to more polar metabolites so they aren’t readily reabsorbed by the kidney
Convert drugs to metabolites that are usually pharmacologically less active than parent
Main organ of drug metabolism
Liver but GI tract, lungs, plasma have activity too
Aspirin metabolism
Possess different type or spectrum of action -
Aspirin has antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activity whereas its metabolite salicylic acid is anti-inflammatory
Phases of drug metabolism (usual)
Phase 1 - Mediated by cytochrome P450 enzyme
A more reactive polar group is added to the parent compound, this can involve oxidation/reduction/hydrolysis
Phase 2 - Conjugation
Adds an endogenous compound increasing polarity
Why do drugs have to be polarized and metabolized
Most drugs are lipophilic and difficult for the kidneys to be excreted as they are reabsorbed by the kidney easily. Hence adding a polar group makes excretion of the drug easier.
What are cytochrome (CYP) P450 family of monooxygenases
Haem proteins located in endoplasmic reticulum of liver hepatocytes mediating oxidation reductions (phase 1) of lipid soluble drugs
Main gene families of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase
CYP1, CYP2 and CYP3
What is hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
Decline in brain function due to insuffiiency in detoxification of ammonia to urea resulting in raised ammonia (NH3) levels
Therapeutic option in hepatic encephalopathy
Lactulose - Semisynthetic fructose + lactose
Not digested or absorbed in ileum
Breakdown products in colon are acidic - reduce pH
This converts ammonia into ammonium which isn’t absorbed and safely excreted
Antibiotics - Neomycin and Rifaximin
Minimally absorbed kind, suppress colonic flora, inhibit ammonia generation
Solid liver lesions in elderly
More likely to be malignant with metastases, more common than primary liver cancer in the absence of liver disease
Solid liver lesions in chronic liver patients
More likely to be primary lung cancer than metastases or benign tumours.
Solid liver lesion in non cirrhotic younger patients
Haemangioma
What is a hepatic haemangioma
Benign tumour of the liver composed of hepatic endothelial cells
Benign tumours of liver
Haemangioma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Adenoma
Liver cyst
Malignant tumour of liver
Hepatocellular carcinoma Cholangiocarcinoma Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatoblastoma Metastases
What is fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma
Form of hepatocellular carcinoma that typically affects young adults, histologically shows laminated fibrous layers between tumour cells
Features of haemangioma
Females > males, hypervascular tumour. Usually single, small and well-demarcated capsule. Asymptomatic
Management of haemangioma
No treatment needed, no need for fine needle aspiration biopsy. US/CT scan and MRI diagnostic
How does haemangioma show up in a CT scan
Lights up with a contrast as it’s a very vascular tumour
Second most common benign tumour of the liver
Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)
What causes focal nodular hyperplasia
Congenital vascular anomaly
Classical presentation of focal nodular hyperplasia
Central scar containing a large artery, radiating branches to the periphery
Features of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)
Asymptomatic usually, rarely grows or bleeds, no malignant potential. More common in young-middle aged females with sinusids, bile ductules and kupffer cells on histology
Treatment for focal nodular hyperplasia
No treatment required
Liver disease associated with contraceptive hormones and anabolic steroids
Hepatic adenoma, more common in females than males, 10:1 ratio
Clinical features of hepatic adenoma
Mainly asymptomatic but may have RUQ pain and may progress to rupture, haemorrhage or malignancy (rare)
Malignant transformation of hepatic adenoma is higher in which gender
Males than females
Is the portal tract present in hepatic adenoma
No portal tract, central vein or bile duct present in hepatic adenoma
Glycogen storage disease can lead to
Formation of multiple adenomas (adenomatosis)
Diagnosis of hepatic adenoma
Stop hormones (oral contraceptives/anabolic steroids)
Weight loss
Males - Surgical excision
Females - Imaging after 6 months, if;
<5 cm or reducing in size - annual MRI
>5 cm or increasing in size - surgical excision
What is a simple cyst
Liquid collection in a sac lined by an epithelium
Clinical features of a simple cyst
Asymptomatic with no malignant potential
If symptomatic, may be related to intracystic haemorrhage, infection, rupture (rare) or compression
Management of simple cyst
No follow up necessary, image 3-6 months if in doubt
Surgical resection if symptomatic or uncertain of diagnosis
What causes hydatid cysts
Infection due to ingestion of the larvae of the tapeworm - Echinococcus granulosus, not common in the UK
How is diagnosis of hydatid cyst made
History, appearance (may be jaundiced, weight loss, abdominal pain), serological testing by detection of anti-Echinococcus antibodies
Cyst commonly found in dogs that consume organs or meat of infected sheep
Hydatid cyst
Mangement of hydatid cyst
Conservative surgery - Open cystectomy, marsupialization
Radical surgery - Pericystectomy, lobectomy
Drugs - Albendazole
Option for patients unresponsive to surgery for hydatid cyst
PAIR - Percutaneous aspiration-injection reaspiration drainage
What can embryonic ductal plate malformation of the intrahepatic biliary tree lead to
Formation of numerous cysts through the liver -
Polycystic liver disease
von Meyenburg complex (VMC)
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
What are von Meyenburg complexes
Also known as multiple biliary hamartomas, rare cause of multiple benign hepatic lesions throughout the liver.
What is polycystic liver disease (PCLD)
Numerous cysts throughout the liver with liver function preserved. Symptoms depend on size and involves a mutation in PCLD gene - PRKCSH and SEC63
What is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
Renal failure due to polycystic (multiple cysts) in the kidney. Non-renal extra hepatic features and massive hepatic enlargement are common. Due to a mutation in the ADPKD genes - PKD1 and PKD2
One of the most lethal and prevalent monogenic human disorder
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Examination findings of polycystic liver disease
Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, atypical compression of adjacent structures due to voluminous cysts
Management of polycystic liver disease
Conservative treatment to halt cyst growth and allow abdominal decompression and ameliorate symptoms
When are invasive procedures called for in polycystic liver disease
In selective patient groups such as those with advanced PCLD, ADPKD or liver failure
Pharmacological therapy and polycystic liver disease
By somatostatin analogues can relieve symptoms and reduce liver volume
Patient with a abdominal or biliary infection, recent dental procedure. High fever, leucocytosis and RUQ abdominal pain.
Liver abscess
Management of liver abscess
Empirical broad spectrum antibiotics
Aspiration/drainage percutaneously
Echocardiogram
Management of liver abscess if no improvement
Operation - Open drainage or resection
Most common primary liver cancer mostly found in men
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Cause of hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol, aflatoxins
What are aflatoxins
Family of toxins produced by certain fungi found on agriculture crops such as maize, peanuts, corn. Main fungi producing this are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus
Most common feature of hepatocellular carcinoma
Right upper quadrant pain and weight loss
Examination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Signs of cirrhosis, hard enlarged RUQ mass, rare liver bruit
Where can hepatocellular carcinoma metastasize to
Rest of liver, portal vein, lymph nodes, lung, bone, brain
How is hepatocellular carcinoma invstigated for
Alfa fetoprotein and ultrasound. Elevation of alfa fetoprotein is seen in 60-80% of patients.
Why is biopsy avoided in diagnosing HCC
Biopsy may lead to seeding of cells along the route of resection.
Best treatment for HCC
Liver transplant only is single tumour < 5cm or less than 3 tumours less than 3 cm each
When is resection done in HCC
Small tumours with preserved liver function, i.e. no jaundice or portal hypertension. Recurrence rate is high
Treatment for patients without resectable livers and advanced liver cirrhosis in HCC
Local ablation using percutaneous ethanol injection or radiofrequency. Not a good choice for tumours beside major blood vessels, diaphragm or bile duct. It is a temporary measure and rate of recurrence is high
Palliative treatment for unresectable HCC in patients with early cirrhosis but well compensated
TransArterial ChemoEmbolization (TACE), it restricts the tumours blood supply. Chemotherapeutic drugs are injected into the artery supplying the tumour through a catheter. These drugs not only block blood supply but also induce cytotoxicity.
Systemic therapy for HCC
Sorafenib -
Kinase inhibitor drug, inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor and Raf
Young patient showing typical stellate scar with radial septa showing persistent enhancement on CT scan. Alfa-fetoprotein blood test is normal
Fibro-lamellar carcinoma