Liver Flashcards
5 LFTs (Liver function tests) - GAABA
GGT - Raised in alcoholic liver disease ALP - Raised in biliary tree damage and also in bone resorption (metastases) AST/ALT - Raised in hepatocyte damage Bilirubin Albumin
Progression of chronic liver disease - 5 phases
1) Chronic liver condition
2) Liver damage
3) Liver symptoms
4) Liver cirrhosis
5) Liver failure/risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Viral hepatitis A/B/C/D/E - Modes of transmission
Hep A - Faeco-oral (contaminated food/water)
Hep B - Blood-borne
Hep C - Blood-borne
Hep D - Blood-borne
Hep E - Faeco-oral (contaminated food/water)
Viral hepatitis - Investigation
Serology - Detect antibodies/antigens
Viral hepatitis A/B - Vaccines
Hep A - Travellers
Hep B - Immunisation
Viral hepatitis A/B/C/E - Treatment
Hep A/E - Supportive
Hep B - Pegylated interferon-alpha 2a/pegasys (immune response)
Hep C - Sofosbuvir (antiviral)
What is the worst combination of viral hepatitis?
Hep B/D
Alcoholic liver disease - Pathophysiology 5 steps
1) Reduced NAD+
2) Reduced fat oxidation
3) Fat accumulation in hepatocytes
4) Liver cell membranes damaged
5) Inflammation and eventual cirrhosis
Alcoholic liver disease - Investigations
GGT raised
AST/ALT raised
FBC - Macrocytic anaemia
Alcoholic liver disease - Treatment
Quit alcohol
Thiamine (malnutrition from alcohol)
NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) - Risk factors
T2DM
Metabolic syndrome
NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) - Investigations
Liver fibrosis test
NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) - Management
Lifestyle - exercise
Screening for obesity-related conditions
Autoimmune hepatitis - Investigations
Antibodies
Liver biopsy
Autoimmune hepatitis - Management
Prednisolone (immunosuppression)
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) - Pathophysiology
Autoimmune destruction of intrahepatic biliary ducts, leading to cholestasis - excess bile and cholesterol in the blood
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) - Signs and symptoms
Excess bile - Jaundice, pruritis (severe itching)
Excess cholesterol - Hyperpigmentation
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) - Investigations
Antibodies LFT - Raised ALP Serum cholesterol - Raised Ultrasound (Abdo) Liver biopsy
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) - Management
Colestyramine (pruritus)
ADEK supplementation
Bisphosphonate (osteoporosis)
Wilson’s disease - Pathophysiology
Hereditary - Autosomal recessive chromosome 13
Excess copper in liver and CNS
Wilson’s disease - Sign
Kayser-fleischer rings (dark rings around iris)
Wilson’s disease - Management
Reduce copper intake
Penicillamine (excretes copper)
Haemochromatosis - Pathophysiology
Hereditary - Autosomal recessive chromosome 6
Excess iron everywhere
Haemochromatosis - Complications
Restrictive cardiomyopathy due to iron deposition Bronze diabetes (hyperglycaemia and skin darkening)
Haemochromatosis - Investigations
Serum ferritin
Haemochromatosis - Management
Reduce dietary iron intake
Desferrioxamine (Remove excess iron)
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency - Pathophysiology
Autosomal recessive chromosome 14
1) Accumulation of alpha-1-antitrypsin in hepatocytes and lack of it in serum
2) Lack of protease inhibition in alveoli
3) Alveolar damage leads to emphysema
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency - Symptoms
COPD symptoms
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency - Investigation
Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin
Alpha-1-antitrypsin - Management
Manage COPD Liver transplant (curative)
Liver cirrhosis - Pathophysiology
Normal smooth liver structure becomes distorted, with nodules surrounded by fibrosis, affecting the liver’s synthetic, metabolic and excretory actions
Liver cirrhosis - Risk factors
Alcohol misuse
Hep B/C
Obesity
T2DM
Liver cirrhosis - 2 Types
Compensated - Liver can still function with no/few symptoms
Decompensated - Liver cannot function adequately and complications arise (jaundice, ascites, etc), at this point it is known as chronic decompensated hepatic failure