Liver and Friends Flashcards
How does the presence of fatty acids lead to the release of bile into the duodenum?
Enteroendocrine cells release cholecystokinin (CCK) which relaxes the sphincter of oddi and stimulates the gallbladder to contract
How is fat broken down in the duodenum?
Bile is a fat emulsifier
Pancreatic lipase further breaks down micelles so they can be absorbed by the villi
Give 4 risk factors for developing gallstones
Female Obesity Pregnancy Age Rapid weight loss
Where does pain occur in a gallbladder attack?
Sudden sharp pain in R upper quadrant or epigastrum which radiates to the right shoulder
Describe the pattern of pain with a gallbladder attack
Pain starts several hours after a meal and increases in severity for 15 minutes then plateaus for around 6 hours
After this it improves as the gallstone dislodges
How would you diagnose gallstones?
Recurrent symptoms
US
How would you treat biliary colic?
Manage pain and other symptoms
Cholecystectomy
Give the components of bile
70% bile salts and acids (amphiphilic components of cholesterol metabolism) 10% cholesterol 5% phospholipids 5% proteins 1% bilirubin
Give the percentage of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in the bile
98-99% conjugated
1-2% unconjugated
Why might cholesterol stones form?
Precipitated cholesterol due to:
Supersaturation
Not enough salts/ acids or phospholipids
Gallbladder stasis
How might bilirubin stones form?
Increased unconjugated bilirubin in bile is in anionic form due to low pH, binds to calcium ions to form calcium bilirubinate
How might brown stones form?
Bacteria such as E.coli bring in hydrolytic enzymes which hydrolyse conjugated bilirubin to unconjugated bilirubin and phospholipids to hydrolysed phospholipids which precipitate out
How can gallstones lead to acute cholecystitis?
Bile is not moving due to stone blocking the cystic duct and so acts as a chemical irritant
Mucosa in the walls starts secreting mucus and enzymes causing:
Inflammation
Distention
Pressure build-up
Give 3 types of bacteria that can cause acute cholecystitis
E.coli
Enterococci
Bacteroides fragilis
Clostridium
Describe the pattern of pain with acute cholecystitis
Pain may shift from midepigastric to R upper quadrant (dull achey pain) which may radiate to the shoulders
Positive Murphy’s sign
Describe what is meant by a positive Murphy’s sign
Pressure on the abdomen preventing abdo contents moving, patient takes a deep breath so the diaphragm pushes down on the gallbladder, if there is pain then this is a positive Murphy’s sign
How might acute cholecystitis secondary to gallstones lead to sepsis?
Increased pressure compressed the blood vessels
Gallbladder ischaemia leads to gangrenous cell death, weakening the walls which may perforate, allowing bacteria into the blood
How can gallstones in the common bile duct cause jaundice?
Bile backs up into the liver and increases pressure in the bile duct
This forces bile into the blood through narrow cell junctions and therefore increases serum conjugated bilirubin
Why would you see an increase in alkaline phosphatase in acute cholecystitis?
ALP is an enzyme found in high amounts in the liver and bile ducts
It is released by dead cells due to damage
How would you diagnose acute cholecystitis?
US:
Gallbladder wall thickening
Sludge
Distention of the gallbladder/ bile duct
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Cholescintigraphy: radiolabeled marker
How would you treat acute cholecystitis?
IV fluids
pain management
Abx
Cholecystectomy
Describe chronic cholecystitis
Repeated/ constant inflammation due to gall stones repeatedly lodging/ dislodging in the cystic duct, inflammation damages the gallbladder walls
Describe the damage to the mucosa as a result of chronic cholecystitis
Pockets of mucosa rather than smooth and flat
Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus
What changes occur to the gallbladder in chronic cholecystitis?
Gallbladder becomes more sensitive
Epithelial tissue of the gallbladder can undergo fibrosis and calcification leading to a “porcelain gallbladder” usually treated with a cholecystectomy
Describe ascending cholangitis
Inflammation of the bile ducts from bacteria that travel up the duct from the duodenum
Give the medical term for gall stones in the common bile duct
Choledocholithiasis
How might the flow of bile become blocked causing ascnding cholangitis?
Choledocholithiasis
Stricture due to cancerous growth or laparoscopic injury
Give the 3 bacterial causes of ascending cholangitis
E.coli
Klebsiella
Enterococcus
How might bacteria and bile in the bile ducts, from ascending cholangitis, enter the blood stream?
Spaces between cells due to high pressure from bile build-up allows bile and bacteria into the blood
Give the 3 symptoms in Charcot’s triad for ascending cholangitis
Fever
R upper quadrant pain
Jaundice
How would you diagnose ascending cholangitis?
Blood tests: evidence of infection, jaundice and shock
Imaging:
US
ERCP
How would you treat ascending cholangitis?
Manage symptoms: Abx and rehydration
Remove the obstruction: ERCP/ shockwave lithotripsy
Widen ducts: stent
Cholecystectomy
What is the exocrine function of the pancreas?
Secrete enzymes to break down proteins, lips, carbs
What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?
Alpha and beta cells secrete hormones into the bloodstream: insulin and glucagon
How does the pancreas protect itself from self-digestion?
Enzymes are produced as zymogens stored in vesicles with protease inhibitors
How can pancreatitis occur?
Zymogens become active in the small intestine by trips
If trypsinogen is activated early it can cause acute pancreatitis as a result of acinar cell injury and impaired secretion of proenzymes
What are the two leading causes of pancreatitis?
Alcohol: thickens pancreatic juices which form plugs that block ducts, juices back up
Gallstones: blocks release of pancreatic juices
Give 5 complications of pancreatitis
Pancreatic pseudocyst Pancreatic abscess Haemorrhage from damaged blood vessels Hypovolemic shock DIC Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Give 5 signs and symptoms for the diagnosis of pancreatitis
Hypocalcaemia: used up by fat necrosis Bruising around umbilicus: Cullen's sign Bruising along the flank: Grey Turner's sign Epigastric pain radiates to back Labs: Increased serum amylase and lipase
How would you treat acute pancreatitis?
Pain management
Hydration
Electrolytes
Rest of bowels
Give 2 key causes of chronic pancreatitis
Cystic fibrosis
Repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis
Describe chronic pancreatitis
Persistent inflammation leading to fibrosis, atrophy and calcification
How would you diagnose chronic pancreatitis?
XR/ CT: calcifications
ERCP of ducts
Describe the consequences of chronic pancreatitis including symptoms
Acinar cells are impaired: loss of digestive enzymes means trouble absorbing food/ fat
This causes weight loss
Fat soluble vitamin deficiencies
Steatorrhoea
Give the 3 enzymes involved in the metabolisation of alcohol in the hepatocytes and what is the product?
CP450
Alcohol dehydrogenase
Catalase
Product: Acetaldehyde
How do levels of NAD+ and NADH vary with alcohol metabolism and how does this affect fat production in the liver?
NAD+ –> NADH when alcohol is metabolised
An increase in NADH stimulates cells to make more fatty acids
A decrease in NAD+ levels leads to less fatty acid oxidation
How can high levels of acetaldehyde lead to alcoholic hepatitis?
It can bind to macromolecules, enzymes etc. and inhibit these molecules, forming acetaldehyde adducts
This leads to the destruction of hepatocytes by neutrophilic infiltration
Give 3 signs and symptoms of alcoholic liver disease
Hepatomegaly Neutrophilic leukocytosis Perivenular fibrosis Enzymes leak out: high ALT and AST Thrombocytopenia
How would you treat alcoholic liver disease?
Stop alcohol consumption
Corticosteroids- suppress the immune system
What is the normal function of stellate cells?
Store vitamin A in the liver
What happens when stellate cells are activated by paracrine factors secreted by injured hepatocytes in cirrhosis?
They lose vitamin A, proliferate and secrete TNF-beta
and produce collagen
Describe the problems that can be caused by compression of the central veins and sinusoids due to fibrotic tissue buildup in liver cirrhosis
Portal HTN meaning fluid in the vessels is more likely to be pushed into and across tissues into space leading to:
Portosystemic shunt, renal vasoconstriction and hepatorenal failure
Ascites
Congestive splenomegaly
Explain the consequences of decreased liver detoxification in cirrhosis
Toxins can enter the brain causing hepatic encephalopathy
In particular ammonia which is usually metabolised by the liver, can cause asterixis and coma
Explain the consequences of decreased oestrogen metabolism in liver cirrhosis
Increased oestrogen in the blood can cause:
Gynecomastia
Spider angiomata
Palmar erythema
Give 3 consequences of decreased liver function other than liver detoxification and oestrogen metabolism
Decreased bilirubin conjugation
Decreased albumin production
Decreased clotting factor production
Give 4 symptoms of extensive liver fibrosis
Jaundice and pruritus
Ascites
Hepatic encephalopathy- confusion
Easy bruising