Liver Flashcards
What is acute liver failure
Onset of liver injury, hepatic encephalopathy, and coagulopathy (INR >1.5) in patients w/ no prior h/o liver disease
Most acute liver cases arise from
massive hepatocyte necrosis; APAP overdose
-viral hepatitis, drugs, toxins, metabolic, vascular events, misc.
What are S/Sx of acute liver failure
AMS (encephalopathy) cerebral edema coagulopathy multiple organ failure ascites, anasarca, shrinking liver on PE
What are the stages of encephalopathy (AMS)
Early: personality change, reverse sleep pattern
Progressing: lethargy
Late: coma
What is acute hepatic failure
acute onset liver failure with coagulopathy (INR >1.5) and jaundice
Encephalopathy w/in 1-4 weeks of liver injury!
What is subacute hepatic failure
Acute liver failure with encephalopathy developing 12-24 weeks after onset of liver injury
What are lab findings in acute liver failure
Severe coagulopathy (high PT/INR)- bleed easy
CBC: leukocytosis
BMP: hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia
LFT: marked elevation of bilirubin, ALT, AST
How do you treat acute liver failure
Hospitalization
Continuous monitoring
Supportive care
If recovery seems unlikely, prep for liver transplant
What is hepatitis
Acute or chronic hepatocellular damage
What causes acute vs chronic hepatitis
Acute: Viral!
Chronic: Viral!
so basically… VIRAL!!
How are different hepatitis forms contracted
A&E: fecal oral route (E from Mexico). But they are self limited!
B, C, D: parenterally, mucous membrane (IVDU, tattoos, infected mom, transfusion). these progress to chronic
What are categories of acute hepatitis
Self limited
Acute liver failure
Cholestatic hepatitis (HAV)
Relapsing hepatitis (HAV)
What is the pathophys of acute viral hepatitis
Cell mediated mechanisms cause hepatocyte injury by degeneration or apoptosis; CD8 and CD4 respond, and cytokines are produced
What are S/Sx of acute viral hepatitis (self limited)
Prodrome: malaise, anorexia, N/V, flu-like Sx. Abrupt onset in A&E, insidious in B-D
Wen prodromal Sx subside, jaundice sets in w/ dark urine and pruritis
What will self limited acute viral hepatitis show on PE
mild enlargement and ttp of liver
mild splenomegaly
What are S/Sx of cholestatic hepatitis (HAV acute)
severe jaundice
pruritis
anorexia and diarrhea
-BUT a good prognosis
What are S/Sx of relapsing hepatitis (HAV acute)
Sx recur for wk-months arthritis vasculitis cryoglobulinemia -BUT, prognosis is excellent eventually
What are lab findings in acute viral hepatitis (self limited)
ALT/AST >500 Total bili: normal Alk Phos: normal Prolonged PT/INR: normal Albumin: normal WBC: normal \+/- lymphocytosis
What are cholestatic disease (acute viral) findings
Bilirubin 20+
Alk phos: high
ALT/AST: initially elevated, may decrease*
What are lab findings in relapsing acute viral hepatitis
ALT/AST: elevation after normalization
Bilirubin: elevation after normalization
-relapses usually don’t exceed previous levels
How do you treat acute viral hepatitis
Self limited and relapsing: outpt, unless severe dehydration. Plenty of fluids&kcal. No EtOH, rest, d/c non-essential drugs, if HCV doesn’t resolve in 3 months use antiviral, if HBV use tenofovir or entecavir if severe
How do you treat cholestatis acute viral hepatitis
Prednisone
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Cholestyramine for pruritis
Are HAV and HEV chronic
No, the virus can survive in bile and is shed in feces, but does NOT result in prolonged viremic or intestinal carrier states
What is the pathophys of hep A&E
Virus ingested, transported across intestinal epithelium, through mesenteric veins to liver
It enters hepatocytes, replicates, causes cell mediated injury, and is then shed into bile and travels to intestine