Liver Flashcards
What is acute liver failure?
onset of liver injury, hepatic encephalopathy, & coagulopathy (INR > 1.5) in patients with no prior hx of liver disease
rapid decline of liver func.
MCC of liver acute liver failure?
Tylenol OF
s/s of acute liver failure?
AMS (early: personality change > lethargy> coma)
Cerebral Edema
Coagulopathy
Multiple Organ Failure
Ascites and anasarca
Serial Physical Exams: shrinking liver
Clinical features of acute v. subacute hepatic failure?
Encephalopathy develops within 1- 4 weeks of onset of liver injury
Encephalopathy develops 12- 24 weeks after onset of liver injury
lab findings in acute liver failure?
Severe coagulopathy ( increased PT/INR)
CBC: leukocytosis
BMP: hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia
LFTs: marked elevation of bilirubin, ALT, AST
Tx of acute liver failure?
Admit: transfer to a liver transplant center
Continuous monitoring and supportive care
Await spontaneous resolution
If recovery seems unlikely: prepare for liver transplantation
What is hepatitis? MCC?
Acute or chronic hepatocellular damage
lots of causes
MCC acute &chronic: viral
How are Hepatitis A& E transmitted?
by fecal-oral route, do not cause chronic infection
How are viral Hep B,C & D transmitted?
transmitted parenterally or via mucous membrane contact, can progress to chronic infection
hx: IVDA, tattoos, infx mother, blood transfusion
What are the dif. categories of acute hepatitis?
self limited (HAV, HEV)
acute liver failure
cholestatic hep (HAV)
Relapsing hep (HAV)
patho of acute viral hep?
Cell-mediated immune mechanisms hepatocyte injury (degeneration and apoptosis)
s/s of self limited acute viral hep?
asxs-> lots
prodromal: GI sxs, flu like sxs, abrupt onset in HAV & HEV
Then: jaundice, pruritis
PE findings in acute self limited hep?
Mild enlargement/slight tenderness of liver
Mild splenomegaly and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy
s/s of acute cholestatic viral hep?
Severe jaundice for several months
Prominent pruritis
Persistent anorexia and diarrhea (small percentage of patients)
Excellent px for complete recovery
s/s of relapsing acute hepatitis?
Sxs recur weeks – months after improvement/apparent recovery
Arthritis, vasculitis, and cryoglobulinemia (excess proteins/cryglobulins in the blood) may be seen
Px is excellent for eventual complete recovery ( may have multiple relapses)
lab findings in self limited acute viral hepatitis?
ALT & AST > 500 units/L, ALT>AST
Total bilirubin: norm
Alkaline phos: normal to mild elevation
Prolonged PT/INR: normal to mild elevation
Albumin: normal to mild decrease
CBC: +/- mild leukopenia
Possible lymphocytosis
Labs seen in cholestatic viral hep?
Bilirubin ≥20 mg/dL
Elevation of alkaline phos
Initial elevation of ALT/AST may decrease despite persistent cholestasis
labs seen in relapsing viral hepatitis?
Elevation of ALT, AST, Bilirubin recurs after normalization
Usually relapses do not exceed previous levels
Tx for self limited and relapsing acute hepatitis?
Outpt unless severe dehydration
Adequate POs
No etoh
Rest
DC non-essential drugs
Pharm tx for self limited and relapsing acute hepatitis
HAV, HEV, HDV – no specific drug treatment
HCV – if spontaneous resolution does not occur in 3 months use oral antiviral as per chronic HCV tx guidelines
HBV – tenofovir or entecavir only indicated in severe cases
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Risk factors for Hep A?
living in endemic region
High prevalence areas = Africa and parts of Asia and Latin America
close personal contact with an infx person
men who have sex with men
known foodborne outbreak
s/s of Hep A?
Incubation: ~28 days
preicteric phase 5-7 d > Fever likely to occur with HAV
icteric phase Jaundice peaks typically at 2 weeks
Dx tests for Hep A?
IgM Antibody to HAV (Anti-HAV)
-detected 5-10 days before sxs onset and stay for 3-6mo
IgM is replaced with IgG anti-HAV
-stays helpful for life
Tx for Hep A?
supportive
nearly all recovered in 6 months
Pt Ed for Hep A?
good handwashing, disposal of wastes
careful food handling
Immunizations: HAV vaccination
Avoid Tylenol and ETOH
children should stay home for 1 wk
Hep A post-exposure prophylaxis?
for anyone recently exposed?
give ASAP, within 2 wks
Healthy persons 12mos – 40 yo: HAV vaccine
> 40yo, <12 mos., chronic liver disease, immunocompromised: Immune globulin
Epidemiology of Hep E?
Highly endemic in Mexico, Cuba, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
How is Hep E transmitted?
Can be spread by animals, most commonly swine
Contaminated drinking water is common source of infection
Consumption of undercooked pork, deer meat, shellfish
Clinical features of Hep E?
Abrupt onset of prodromal sxs
Acute liver failure occurs in high frequency (10-20%) in pregnant women with HEV (especially in 3rd trimester)
Dx of Hep E?
IgM Anti-HEV detectable for at least 6 wks (usu. first few months)
IgM is replaced with IgG Anti-HEV which is usually only detectable for 12 – 20 mos
HEV RNA test confirms and quantifies presence of HEV
- stool sample
- good for immunocompromised
Prevention of Hep E?
NO vaccine in US, no immune globulin
- good sanitation
- avoid unpurified water
- avoid raw pork and venison
What are the blood-borne hepatits?
HBV, HDV, HCV
Linked to chronic liver disease
Associated with persistent viremia
What is HBV?
DNA virus transmitted by percutaneous and permucosal routes
sexually transmitted disease
may result in a self-limited disease requiring no treatment
may also result in chronically infx state
Characteristics of HBV infx?
neonates: asxs, most chronic carries
adult: asxs, some have sxs icteric hepatitis
10-30% risk of developing cirrhosis
Patho of HBV?
Most of the liver injury occurs due to the host immune response to HBV, a cell-mediated response against HBcAg
What are some sig. risk factors for Hep B?
infant born to an HBV-infected mother
Multiple sexual partners
MSM
IVDA
Asian, eastern European, or African ancestry
FHx of HBV and/or chronic liver disease
FHx HCC
Household contact with HBV
Dx of HBV?
70% have norm PE
Acute:
- elevated ALT
- HBsAg and Anti-HBc
Prior HBV:
-Anti-HBs, IgG anti-HBc, Anti HBe
Chronic:
- HBsAg >6 mo
- Persistence of HBeAg & HBV DNA
Inactive carries:
asxs, normal ALT, low level HBV DNA, anti-HBe, negligible infectivity
acute s/s of HBV?
Fever/chills Malaise Maculopapular or urticarial rash Nausea/vomiting Arthralgia/arthritis
Tx of HBV?
Acute – self-limiting
Fulminant – liver transplant
Chronic – anti-viral therapy, liver bx, refer to hepatology
Tx options for chronic Hep B?
Peginterferon alfa-2a– anti-viral, weekly SQ injections for 48 wks
-For: young, non-cirrhotic, low HBV DNA level
Nuceloside analogues– inhibit HBV replication, daily po, may require indefinite therapy
Goals for anti-viral HBV therapy?
Primary: sustained low or undetectable HBV DNA
Secondary: seroconvert HBeAg and HBsAg and normalize ALT
When dx-ing Hep B, what else should you r/o?
HIV
What types of Hepatitis vaccinations for we have?
A and B
Hep B: recombinant inactive HBsAg at birth and 6 mo
What other prevention options are there?
Hep B immune globulin (post exposure prophylaxis, new borns of + moms)
those with HBV: avoid heavy ETOH, barrier protection during sex, cover open cuts/scratches, no blood/organ/semen donations
Presentation of Hep B?
Most asxs, although some will present with complications such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver failure.
What is HDV?
A defective RNA virus that requires presence of HBV, specifically only in the presence of HBsAg
When should you suspect HDV?
Fulminant HBV infection
Acute HBV infection that improves and then relapses
Progressive chronic HBV without active HBV replication
Labs for HDV?
anti-HDV, HDV RNA
Acute vs chronic: IgM and IgG anti-HBc
IgM Anti-HBc = co-infection
IgG Anti-HBc = HDV superinfection
Tx for HDV?
High dose interferon alpha and PEG IFN only approved treatments for chronic disease
Therapy is not optimal (high risk of relapse), better regimes are under investigation
What is HepC?
An infectious, hepatotropic virus belonging to the Flavivirus family
ss-enveloped RNA virus
USPSTF screening recommendations for Hep C?
high risk groups
all people born between the years of 1945 and 1965, regardless of perceived risk
Presentation of HCV?
Acute infection (self-limited in 15-45% of cases): Almost all patients develop a vigorous antibody and cell-mediated immune response
Persistent viremia: accompanied by variable degrees of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis over time
chronic infections
What can accelerate liver cirrhosis in HCV?
chronic alcohol consumption
coincidental viral infections
What is the main HCV genotype seen in the US, Western Europe and Japan?
Genotype 1
How is Hep C transmitted?
transmitted by any percutaneous blood exposure
MCly around IVDA
less freq: sexual activity, perinatally, after accidental blood contact