Liver Flashcards
What are the 4 functions of the Liver?
- Glucose and fat metabolism
- Detoxification and excretion
- Protein synthesis e.g. albumin and clotting factors
- Defence against infection
Where is most of the blood supplied to from the liver?
The portal vein.
What are the 3 Liver function tests?
- Serum bilirubin
- Serum albumin
- Pro-thrombin time
What are the 4 fat soluble vitamins?
ADEK
Give an example of a transamine?
AST and ALT
They increase in hepatocellular disease
When does Alkaline phosphatase increase in the serum?
In cholestatic (duct and obstructive) disease.
What is budd chiari syndrome?
Vascular disease associated with occlusion of hepatic veins
What are some pathological changes in the liver associated with excessive alcohol consumption?
- Fatty liver
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
What condition is associated with the liver and oedema?
Hypoalbuminaemia
What are the causes of haemolytic anaemia?
- Sickle cell disease
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- GP6D Deficiency
- Hypersplenism
What is ascites?
An accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity that leads to abdominal extension
What are the signs of ascites?
- Flank swelling
- Dull to percuss and shifting dullness
What are the pathological causes of Ascites?
- Local inflammation e.g. peritonitis
- Leaky vessels e.g. imbalance between hydrostatic and oncotic pressures
- Low flow e.g. cirrhosis, thrombosis and heart failure
- Low protein e.g. hypalbuminaemia
What are the physiological factors that contribute to ascites?
- High portal venous pressure
- Low serum albumin
Describe the pathogenesis of ascites
- Increased intrahepatic resistance causes portal hypertension –> Ascites
- Systemic vasodilation leads to RAAS, NAd and ADH secretion –> Fluid retention
- Low serum albumin also causes ascites
What investigation would you use in ascites?
- Ultrasound
- Ascitic tap – important to rule out bacterial peritonitis
What would be the management of ascites?
- Fluid and salt restriction
- Diuretics – spironolactone
- Large volume paracentesis and albumin
What are the two different types of ascites?
Exudative ascites
Transudative ascites
What are Exudative ascites?
Increased vasc permeability to infection; inflammation or malignancy
What are transudative ascites?
Increased venous pressure due to cirrhosis, cardiac failure or hypoalbuminaemia
If neutrophils are present in ascites, what is this indicative of?
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
What is chronic liver disease?
A wide range of conditions affecting the liver characterised by disease of over 6 months and progressive destruction of the liver.
What are the causes of Chronic liver disease?
- Alcohol
- Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Viral Hep (B,C,E)
- AI diseases
- Metabolic e.g. haemochromatosis
- Vascular e.g. budd-chiari
What are the signs of chronic liver disease?
- Ascites
- Oedema
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Bruising
- Itching
- Clubbing
- Palmar erythema
- Spider naevi
What are the outcomes of chronic liver disease?
- Cirrhosis
2. Liver failure
What is the management of chronic liver disease?
Dependent on the cause
- Steroids, interferon, antivirals
- Supportive therapy for complications – Albumin, vit K, diuretics
- Possible transplant
What should you ask a patient with expected drug induced liver injury?
If they are on any medications or have began taking any new medications recently.
What are drugs that can cause induced liver injury?
- Co-amoxiclav
- Flucloxacillin
- Erythromycin
- TB drugs
What are drugs that do not cause induced liver injury?
- Low dose aspirin
- NSAIDs
- Beta blockers
- HRT
- CCB
What is Glutathione Transferase?
Mops up reactive intermediate of paracetamol and thus prevents toxicity and liver failure.
What 4 features would you see in a paracetamol overdose?
- Metabolic acidosis
- Prolonged thrombin time
- Raised creatine (renal failure)
- Raised ALT
What is the treatment for paracetamol overdose?
IV N-Acetyl-cysteine
What are the symptoms of acute liver disease?
- Malaise
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Jaundice
What are the causes of acute liver disease?
- Viral hepatitis
- Drug induced hepatitis
- Alcohol induced hepatitis
- Vascular
- Obstruction
What are the outcomes of acute liver disease?
- Recovery
2. Liver failure
What are the investigations in acute liver disease?
Blood test - prothrombin response time.
What are the treatments in acute liver disease?
Dependent on the cause
What is hepatitis?
Inflammatory condition of the liver
How long must hepatitis be present for it to become chronic?
6 months or more.
What are the symptoms of acute hepatitis?
- General malaise
- Myalgia – pain
- GI upset
- Abdo pain
- Raised AST,ALT
- Possible jaundice
What are the causes of acute hepatitis?
- Viral e.g. A,B,C,D,E
- Drug induced
- Alcohol Induced
- Autoimmune
How long does HBsAg be present in the serum post infection?
6-18 weeks.
When could you detect Anti-HBV core (IgM)
Rises from 6 weeks and peaks at 18.
How can you tell if a patient has been vaccinated or previously been accepted?
If they have anti-HBV’s IgC in their serum.
What are the infective causes of acute hepatitis?
- Hepatitis A to E infection
- EBV
- CMV
- Toxoplasmosis
What are the non infective causes of acute and chronic hepatitis?
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Toxins
- Autoimmune
What are the infective causes of chronic hepatitis?
- Hep B +-D
- Hep C
- Hep E
What are the complications of chronic hepatitis?
Uncontrolled inflammation –> Fibrosis –> Cirrhosis –> HCC
Is Hep A a DNA virus or RNA virus?
RNA virus
How can Hep A virus be prevented?
Vaccination
How is Hep A transmitted?
Faeco-orally e.g. contaminated food and water
How can you diagnose Hep A?
Viral serology initally –> anti-HAV IgM then Anti-HAV IgG
What is the management of Hep A?
- Supportive
- Monitor liver function to ensure no fulmiant hepatic failure
- Manage close contacts
Is Hepatitis B an RNA or DNA virus?
DNA virus which replicates in hepatocytes
How is Hep B transmitted?
Blood borne –> needle stick injury.
How many cases of Hep B go onto chronic infection?
5%
What is the natural history of Hepatitis B?
- Immune tolerance phase –> unimpeded viral replication –> High HBV DNA levels
- Immune clearance phase –> IS wakes up, liver inflammation and high ALT
- Inactive HBV Carrier phase –> HBV DNA low, No inflammation and normal ALT
- Reactivation Phase –> ALT and HBV, DNA levels are intermittent and inflame is seen on liver due to fibrosis
What does HBV Trigger in the immune system?
Core proteins
How would you diagnose HBV?
Viral serology –> HBV surface antigen from 6th week to 18th week or anti-HBV core IgM after 3 months.
How would you manage Hepatitis B?
- Supportive
- Liver function monitoring
- Manage contacts
- Follow up at 6 months to see if HBV surface Ag has cleared –> if present chronic hepatitis
How could you tell if someone has a chronic HBV?
A follow up appointment in 6 months to see if HBV surface antigen had cleared.
What are the consequences of chronic HBV infection?
- Cirrhosis
- HCC
- Decompensated cirrhosis
How can HBV infection be prevented?
Vaccination - inactivated HbsAg
What is the treatment for HBV?
- Alpha interferon- boosts immune system
- Antivirals e.g. tenofovir –> inhibit viral replications
What are the side effects of alpha interferon?
Myalgia, malaise, lethargy, thyroiditis, mental health issues
Is Hepatitis C a RNA or DNA virus?
Blood borne RNA Virus
How much of Hep C passes on to be a chronic infection?
70%
What are the risk factors for HBV/HCV
- IVDU
- People who have required blood results
- Needles stick injuries
- Unprotected sex
- Materno-foetal transmission
How would you diagnose HCV?
Viral serology - presence of Anti-HCV and IgM/IgC RNA.
How can you prevent HCV?
- Screen blood products
- Lifestyle modification
- Needle exchange
Does HCV infection confer immunity?
No. There is no vaccine either.
What is the current treatment for HCV?
Direct acting antivirals e.g. NS5A and NS5B
Is Hep D an RNA virus or DNA virus?
RNA virus
What does Hep D require to survive?
Hep B infection as it is protected by HbsAg
How is Hep D caused?
Blood borne transmission
How do you treat Hep D?
Get rid of Hep B.
How is Hep E caused?
Faeco-oral RNA virus
When can Hep E be chronic?
In patients with compromised immune systems.
How would you diagnose Hepatitis E?
Viral serology for initially anti-HEV IgM then Anti-HEV IgG.
What is the primary prevention for Hep E?
Good food hygiene and a vaccine is in development
What are the symptoms of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
- Dull to percussion
- Temp
- Abdo pain
What are the causes of peritonitis?
- Stomach ulcer
- Infection
- Abdo wound/injury
- Cirrhosis of liver
What investigations are necessary in peritonitis?
- Blood tests – raised WCC, platelets, CRP, Amylase, reduced blood count
- CXR – Look for air under the diaphragm
- Abdo x-ray –> bowel obstruction
- CT scan – inflammation, ischaemia, cancer
- ECG - Epigastric pain could be related to heart
- B-HCG –> Hormone secreted by pregnant women
What are the complications for peritonitis?
- Hypovolaemia
- Kidney failure
- Systemic sepsis
- Paralytic ileus
- Pulmonary atelectasis (lung collapse)
- Portal pyaemia (pus in portal vein)