Liver Flashcards

1
Q

What are examples of LFTs?

A

Bilirubin
ALT/AST
Alkaline phosphatase
Gamma glutamyl transferase

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2
Q

What causes elevated ALT/AST?

A

Hepatitis

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3
Q

What causes elevated ALP and GGT?

A

Biliary disease

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4
Q

What tests can be used to assess liver function?

A

Coagulation - prothrombin time, INR, APTT
Albumin
Bilirubin

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5
Q

What is the most common manifestation of liver disease in children?

A

Jaundice

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6
Q

Where is jaundice most obvious?

A

Sclera

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7
Q

What level of bilirubin causes visible jaundice?

A

> 40-50umol/l

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8
Q

How is bilirubin metabolised?

A

Post mature erythrocytes are broke down releasing unconjugated bilirubin
Bilirubin transported to liver via albumin and conjugated
Conjugated bilirubin is stuck into bile

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9
Q

What are causes of jaundice in the first 24 hours of life?

A

Always pathological - haemolysis, sepsis

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10
Q

What are causes of jaundice from 24 hours of age to 2 weeks of age?

A

Physiological
Breast milk
Sepsis
Haemolysis

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11
Q

What are causes of jaundice lasting over 2 weeks?

A

Extrahepatic obstruction
Neonatal hepatitis
Hypothyroidism
Breast milk

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12
Q

What causes physiological jaundice?

A

High levels of HbF which has a shorter life span
Relative polycythaemia
Relative immaturity of liver function prevents conjugation of bilirubin
Leads to unconjugated jaundice after first day of life

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13
Q

What is breast milk jaundice?

A

Breast fed babies jaundice lasts longer

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14
Q

What happens if unconjugated jaundice isn’t prevented?

A

Kernicterus

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15
Q

What is kernicterus?

A

Unconjugated jaundice can pass the blood brain barrier so toxic deposits in brain

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16
Q

How is unconjugated jaundice treated?

A

Phototherapy - converts photoisomerization of bilirubin to water soluble form

17
Q

What wavelength is used for phototherapy?

A

450 nanometres

18
Q

What are causes of haeomolysis?

A
ABO incompatibility
Rhesus disease
Bruising/cephalhaematoma
Red cell membrane defects
Red cell enzyme defects
19
Q

What are causes of abnormal bilirubin conjugation?

A

Gilbert’s disease

Crigler-Naijar syndrome

20
Q

When is jaundice considered prolonged?

A

Jaundice beyond 2 weeks of life

Beyond 3 weeks in preterms

21
Q

What are causes of prolonged jaundice?

A

Biliary obstruction
Neonatal hepatitis
Hypothyroidism
Breast milk jaundice

22
Q

Is there a normal cause of conjugated jaundice in infants?

A

No - any infant with conjugated jaundice requires investigation

23
Q

What is the most important test in prolonged jaundice?

A

Split bilirubin

24
Q

In babies with prolonged jaundice what should be examined in stool?

25
What is biliary atresia?
Congenital fibro-inflammatory disease of bile ducts leading to destruction of extra hepatic bile ducts
26
What are features of biliary atresia?
Prolonged conjugated jaundice Pale stools, dark urine Progression to liver failure if not identified and treated
27
What is the primary treatment for biliary atresia?
Kasai procedure - surgical (Kasai portoenterostomy)
28
What is the main reason to assess children with prolonged jaundice?
Diagnosing patients with biliary atresia early
29
When is Kasai procedure mot likely to succeed?
<60 days | Chance of success rapidly drops after this point
30
What investigations should be done in prolonged conjugated jaundice?
Split bilirubin Stool colour Ultrasound Liver biopsy
31
What are causes of neonatal hepatitis?
``` Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency Galactosaemia Tyrosinaemia Urea cycle defects Hypothyroid Viral hepatitis ```