Liver and Friends COPY Flashcards
What are the normal Functions of the Liver?
What happens when they each go wrong?
Oestrogen Regulation - Gynaecomastia, Spider naevi, Palmer Erythema
Detoxification - Hepatic Encephalopathy
Metabolises Carbohydrates - Hypoglycaemia
Albumin production - Oedema, Ascites, Leukonychia
Clotting Factor production - Easy Bruising and Bleeding
Bilirubin Regulation - Pruritus, Jaundice +/- Stool and urine changes
Immunity - Complement factors + kupffer cells - Spontaneous Bacterial infection
Bile acid synthesis - Fat malabsorption + steatorrhoea
What can chronic liver disease lead to?
Liver cirrhosis
Subsequent Liver failure
What does Acute Liver disease lead to?
Recovery - ability to regenerate
Acute Liver Failure
What is Acute Liver injury?
severe acute liver injury from a primary liver aetiology. It is characterised by liver damage (i.e. elevated transaminases) and impaired liver function (e.g. jaundice and coagulopathy with INR > 1.5). Hepatic encephalopathy is absent.
What are some causes of acute liver injury?
Viral A, B, EBV
Drugs - Paracetamol
Alcohol
Vascular – ischaemia (Budd Chiari Syndrome)
Obstruction – usually bile
Congestion – from heart failure
What are some causes of chronic liver disease?
Alcohol
Viral infection - Hepatitis (B/C)
Autoimmune liver disease
Metabolic dysfunction - iron/copper overload
NAFLD
What is a typical presentation of acute liver injury?
Non-specific signs:
Malaise
Nausea
Anorexia
Jaundice
GI Upset
Jaundice
Hepatomegaly
What are some common presentations of chronic liver disease?
Ascites
Oedema
Haematemesis (varices) – vomiting blood
Malaise
Anorexia
Wasting
Easy bruising
Itching
Xanthelasma
Erythema nodosum
Spider naevi
Hepatomegaly
Abnormal LFTs
Jaundice (rarer)
Confusion rarer)
What are the key liver function tests?
Serum Albumin - decreases in injury
Serum Bilirubin - increases in injury
Prothrombin time - increases in injury
Serum Liver Enzymes:
Hepatocellular - Transaminases (AST, ALT)
Cholestatic - Alkaline, Phosphatase Gamma GT
What LFT markers assess the livers synthetic function?
(what would happen to these markers in disease?)
Bilirubin (increase)
Albumin (decrease)
Prothrombin Time (increase)
What LFT markers would be raised in hepatocellular injury?
ALT
AST
What would the Ratio of AST/ALT suggest?
ALT>AST - chronic liver disease
AST>ALT - cirrhosis or acute alcoholic hepatitis
What LFT makers would be raised in cholestatic injury?
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP/AP)
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)
What causes the yellow colour in jaundice?
The accumulation of bilirubin in the blood
What are the different classifications of jaundice?
Pre-hepatic - haemolysis, gilberts
Hepatic - liver damage/disease
Post hepatic - obstruction/biliary
What would be the colour/changes to urine and stools in pre hepatic jaundice?
Urine - Normal
Stools - Normal
Itching - None
Liver Tests - Normal
What would be the colour/changes to urine and stools in Intra hepatic/ Post Hepatic jaundice?
Urine - Dark
Stools - May be pale
Itching - Maybe
Liver Tests - Abnormal
What should be considered asking when a Px presents with Jaundice?
- Dark urine/ Pale stools, Itching
- Symptoms - Biliary pain, Rigors, abdo swelling, weight loss
- PHx - biliary disease, malignancy, HF, Autoimmune
- Drug Hx
- Social Hx - alcohol, Recent travel, IVDU
- FHx
What Tests would be wanted in a Px with Jaundice?
Liver enzymes - Very high AST/ALT suggests liver disease
Ultrasound - dilation of hepatic bile ducts in biliary obstruction
CT, MRCP, ERCP
What are MRCP/ERCPs?
Magnetic Resonance cholangiogram
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiogram
Where do Gallstones most commonly form?
In the gall bladder
What are the components of Gallstones?
70% cholesterol
30% pigment +/- Calcium
What are the risk factors for gallstones development?
4Fs
Female,
Fat
Fertile
Forty
(but can affect anyone)
What is the presentation of a Px with Gallstones?
Biliary Pain
Obstructive jaundice
What is the management of gallstones present in the gall bladder?
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Bile acid dissolution therapy
What is the management of gallstones present in the Bile Duct?
ERCP w/ Sphincterotomy (opening of sphincter of Oddi)
Followed by removal of stones, crushing of stones and stent placement
Surgery - remove larger stones
What is a typical time frame for drug induced liver injury?
From 5 days after starting it
To 3-6 months whilst on it.
What accounts for 50% of the causes of drug induced acute liver failure?
Paracetamol overdose
What proportion of acute liver failure is drug induced?
> 65%
What are the different types of Drug induced Liver Injury?
Hepatocellular
Cholestatic
Mixed
What are the common drugs that are hepatotoxic? (2 mnemonics)
VAMPIRES:
V - Valproate
A - Amiodarone
M - Methyldopa
P - Pyrazinamide
I - Isoniazid
R - Rifampicin
E - PhenYtoin
S - Statins
FAT PINK CARS:
F - Fe salts
A - Amiodarone
T - Tetracyclines
P - Pyrazinamide
I - Isoniazid
N - Nitrofurantoin
K - Ketoconazole (and other antifungals)
C - CCL4
A - Anaesthetic Agents (Halothane)
R - Rifampicin
S - Statins
What is Liver Failure?
The liver loses its regenerative capacity due to hepatocyte death/necrosis causing decompensated liver injury and irreversible damage.
What are the different types of Liver Failure?
Acute Liver Failure
Fulminant Liver Failure
Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure
Chronic Liver Failure
What is Acute Liver Failure?
Rapid decline of hepatic functions characterised by the development of hepatic encephalopathy and coagulopathy (>1.5 INR) in a patient who previously had a normal healthy liver
What is Fulminant Liver Failure?
What are the different categories of Fulminant liver failure?
Rare syndrome of massive hepatocyte necrosis causing acute liver failure
Hyperacute - HE (Hepatic Encephalopathy) within 7 days of jaundice
Acute - HE within 8-21 days of Jaundice
Subacute - HE within 5-26 weeks of Jaundice??????????
What is the most common cause of Fulminant Liver Failure?
Paracetamol Overdose
50% of the cause in the UK
What is Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure?
The acute and rapid decline of a Px with Chronic Liver failure Sx
What is Chronic Liver Failure?
Patient with progressive Hx of liver disease over 6+ months of constant liver injury
What is the Pathogenesis of Liver Failure?
Liver injury
Causes liver hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis leads to fibrotic liver
Leads to Liver cirrhosis
and then Decompensated Cirrhosis (End stage liver failure)
What are the main causes of acute liver failure?
Viral infection - Hep A/E/B, EBV, CMV
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Drugs - Paracetamol OD, Alcohol, Ectasy, Isoniazid
Metabolic Causes - Wilsons disease, A1AT, Haemachromotosis
Budd-Chirai syndrome
What is Budd Chiari Syndrome?
Hepatic vein thrombosis usually seen in the context of other haematological disease
This blocks the hepatic vein from draining leading to a backflow of blood into the liver causing liver damage
What are the symptoms of acute liver failure?
Chronic pain
Abdominal pain - RUQ
Nausea and vomiting
Malaise
What are the clinical signs of Acute Liver Failure?
Jaundice
Coagulopathy
Hepatic Encephalopathy
+:
Confusion
Asterixis - sign of HE
Hepatomegaly
Ascites
Bruising
What are the diagnostic investigations of Acute Liver Failure?
Bloods:
FBC - Infection/Bleeds
LFTs - Inc bilirubin, Inc PT/INR, Dec Albumin
Serum AST/ALT Inc, NH3 Inc, Dec Glucose
U&Es - Hepatorenal Syndrome
Imaging:
1st - Abdo Ultrasound - Check for Budd Chiari
EEG - Grades HE (absent in Acute liver injury)
CT
Ascitic Tap + Microscopy and culture:
Blood culture, Urine culture, Ascitic tap - rule out infection
What is the treatment for acute Liver failure?
ICU,
ABCDE
Fluids
Analgesia
Tx underlying Cause and Tx complications
What is the treatment of paracetamol Overdose
<1 hour - Activated Charcoal + N-acetyl Cysteine
> 1 hour - N-acetyl Cysteine
What are some complications and their treatments of Acute Liver Failure?
Raised ICP - Mannitol
Hepatic Encephalopathy - Lactulose - increases NH3 excretion/ Rifaximin
Ascites - Diuretics (furosemide/spironolactone)/ paracentesis
Haemorrhage - Vitamin K
Hypoglycaemia - Dextrose
Sepsis - Sepsis 6
GI Bleeding - beta blockers
SBP - prophylactic Abx
What are the most common causes of Chronic Liver disease?
Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Viral Hepatitis (B/C)
+ Metabolic, Autoimmune, PSC, PBC, Drugs, Budd Chiari
What is the main cause of Liver death in the UK?
Alcoholic Liver disease
What are the Major Risk factors for Chronic Liver failure?
Alcohol
Obesity
T2DM
Drugs
Inherited Metabolic Disease
Existing Autoimmunity
What is the Pathogenesis of Chronic Liver Failure?
Hepatitis chronic inflammation leads to scarring
Liver Fibrosis (reversible)
Liver Cirrhosis (barely Reversible/irreversible)
Compensated Liver cirrhosis - Some extent of liver function
Decompensated Liver cirrhosis - End stage liver disease
What are the key clinical signs of Liver cirrhosis?
Stigmata of chronic liver disease
Jaundice - Caused by raised bilirubin
Hepatomegaly
Splenomegaly - Caused by portal HTN
Spider Naevi - telangiectasia with central arteriole and small vessels radiating away
Palmer Erythema - Hyper dynamic circulation
Gynaecomastia - endocrine dysfunction
Bruising - abnormal clotting
Ascites
Dupytrens Contracture
Caput Medusae - distended paraumbilical vein due to Portal HTN
Asterixis - Flapping Tremor
What are the stigmata of chronic liver disease?
Caput medusa: distended and engorged superficial epigastric veins around the umbilicus.
Splenomegaly: enlarged spleen.
Palmar erythema: red discolouration on the palm of the hand, particularly over the hypothenar eminence.
Dupuytren’s contracture: thickening of the palmar fascia. Causes painless fixed flexion of fingers at the MCP joints (most commonly ring finger).
Leuconychia: appearance of white lines or dots in the nails. Sign of hypoalbuminaemia.
Gynaecomastia: development of breast tissue in males. Reduced hepatic clearance of androgens leads to peripheral conversion to oestrogen.
Spider naevi: type of dilated blood vessel (i.e. telangiectasia) with central red papule and fine red lines extending radially. Due to excess oestrogen. Usually found in the distribution of the superior vena cava.
What are the major Complications of Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis?
Malnutrition
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Ascites
Coagulopathy
Portal Hypertension
SBP - spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Hepatorenal Syndrome
Oesophageal Varices
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
How does liver cirrhosis lead to malnutrition?
Increased use of muscle tissue as fuel and reduces amount of protein in the body.
Cirrhosis affects liver metabolism of protein and disrupts glucose and glycogen storage/release
leads to increased muscle used as fuel causing malnutrition.
What is the management of Liver cirrhosis induced malnutrition?
Regular meals
Low sodium - minimise fluid retention
High protein and high calorie
Avoid alcohol
How does Liver cirrhosis lead to portal hypertension and subsequent varices?
Liver cirrhosis leads to increased resistance of blood flow in the liver.
Increased pressure back into portal system
Causes pressure at anastomoses with systemic venous system
these swell and become tortuous causing varices
What are the most common sites for varices to occur as a result of portal HTN?
Gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ)
Ileo-caecal junction
Rectum
Anterior abdominal wall via umbilical vein (caput Medusae)
What is a treatment for stable varices (non bleeding)
Propranolol - reduce portal HTN
Elastic band ligation
Injection of sclerosant
How does Liver Cirrhosis lead to Ascites?
Increased pressure in portal system leads to portal HTN
fluid leaks of of capillaries into the peritoneal cavity
A drop in circulating volume reduces BP entering kidneys. This activates RAAS - can exacerbate issue.
Lack of synthesis of albumin also lowers the oncotic pressure of the vasculature leading to fluid leakage
What is the management of Ascites?
Low sodium diet
Spironolactone
Paracentesis - ascitic tap/drain
Prophylactic Abx
What s SBP?
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis that occurs secondary to ascites caused by cirrhosis.
This is an infection that develops in ascitic fluid without a clear cause
What is the presentation of SBP?
Can be ASx
Fever
Abdominal pain
Deranged bloods - Raised WBC, CRP, Creatinine
Ileus
Hypotension
What are the most common organisms in SBP?
E.coli
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Gram +tve cocci - Staphly/enterococci
What is the management of SBP?
Take an ascitic culture (paracentesis) prior to giving Abx
Often treated with IV Cephalosporin - Cefotaxime
How does Liver Cirrhosis lead to Hepato-Renal Syndrome?
Portal HTN decreases circulating volume in other areas such as kidneys.
Activates RAAS
Causes vasoconstriction (added to low blood supply to kidneys) starves kidneys of blood
Rapid deterioration of kidney function - Hepatorenal syndrome
What is hepatic encephalopathy?
Cirrhosis leads to increased ammonia build up in the blood which can be transported to the brain.
This can lead to reduced consciousness, confusion, personality changes, memory impairment and mood swings.
What is the pathophysiology of Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Decreased Liver function
Build up of toxic metabolites (NH3)
Astrocyte ion channels increase stimulation of osmotic pumps
Swelling of astrocytes
leads to cerebral oedema
What is the presentation of Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Liver Sx - jaundice, ascites, peripheral oedema
Mood disturbances - depression, confusion
Sleep disturbances - insomnia
Motor Disturbances - ataxia, bradykinesia, rigidity
How is hepatic encephalopathy Graded?
Grade I: irritability
Grade II: Confusion, inappropriate behaviour
Grade III: Incoherent, restless
Grade IV: Coma
What are the investigations for Hepatic Encephalopathy?
FBC and Basal metabolic panel
Blood alcohol elevated
Blood ammonia raised
How is Hepatic Encephalopathy treated?
Laxatives (lactulose) - increase excretion of ammonia.
Abx (rifaximin) reduce bacterial production of ammonia
Nutritional support - potentially by NG tube
What is the Child Pugh Score?
What is involved?
Assess prognosis and Extent of required Tx for chronic liver failure:
Bilirubin
Ascites presence
Serum Albumin
PT/INR
HE
What is Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis a major risk factor for?
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
What is the Presentation of Chronic Liver Failure?
Jaundice
Ascites
HE
Portal HTN
Oesophageal Varices
Caput Medusae
What are the Diagnostic Investigations for Chronic Liver Disease?
Liver Biopsy - Gold standard - Determines Extent of CLD
LFTs,
Imaging - Ultrasound, CT for secondary findings
Ascitic Tap
What investigations are done in chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) to determine condition/cause?
Non-invasive Liver Screening:
Bloods:
LFTs - Hepatocellular/cholestatic
FBC - inflammation/infection
Electrolytes - Hyponatraemia (Fluid retention)
U&Es - hepatorenal syndrome (Urea + creatinine are deranged)
viral markers/autoantibodies - virus/autoimmune cause
Alpha-Fetoprotein - HCC
Fibroscan - elasticity of the liver
Ultrasound - Splenomegaly, Ascites, Enlarged portal veins
Endoscopy - Oesophageal varices
CT/MR - HCC, Hepatosplenomegaly, ascites
Liver Biopsy - confirm cirrhosis.
What is the Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease?
Tx underlying pathology
Prevent Progression - lifestyle modification
Consider Liver transplant - If decompensated liver
Manage complications
What is Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Progressive damage to the liver from long term excessive Alcohol Consumptions.
What is the Progression of Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Alcohol related Fatty liver (steatosis):
Build up of fat in the liver (reversible in a few weeks)
Alcoholic Hepatitis:
Liver inflammation - Mallory Bodies
Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Liver becomes largely fibrotic - Micronodular
What is the recommended alcohol intake per week?
14 units
How do you calculate the number of units in an alcoholic drink?
Strength (ABV) x Vol/ml / 1000
What is 1 UNIT of alcohol?
8g OR 10ml
What are the symptoms of Alcoholic Liver disease?
Early stages may show little signs/Sx
Jaundice
Fever: important to rule out infection
Anorexia
Abdominal pain
Abdominal distention (ascites)
Muscle wasting
Confusion: seen in encephalopathy and alcohol withdrawal
What are the signs of ALD?
Jaundice
Tender hepatomegaly
Ascites
Asterixis: flapping tremor secondary to encephalopathy
Tremor: seen in alcohol withdrawal
Bruising (coagulopathy)
Stigmata of chronic liver disease
What are the CAGE Questions?
C – CUT DOWN? Ever thought you should?
A – ANNOYED? Do you get annoyed at others commenting on your drinking?
G – GUILTY? Ever feel guilty about drinking?
E – EYE OPENER? Ever drink in the morning to help your hangover/nerves?
What investigations should be done for all patients with suspected Hepatitis?
Full blood count
Urea & electrolytes
Liver function tests
Bone profile
C-reactive protein
Magnesium
Coagulation (INR)
Non-invasive liver screen
Liver ultrasound
+/- septic screen (e.g. blood cultures, urines, ascitic cultures, chest x-ray)
What are the Diagnostic investigations for ALD?
Bloods:
LFTs - Raised GGT, AST/ALT ratio >2
FBC - Macrocytic non-megaloblastic anaemia
Hx of Alcohol
Biopsy - confirm extent of hepatitis/cirrhosis
What Laboratory findings may be indicative of ALD?
Moderately elevated transaminases (< 300 IU/L)
AST/ALT ratio >2 (other liver diseases rarely cause this ratio)
Elevated bilirubin (usually > 86 umol/L)
Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
Elevated neutrophil count (typically < 20.0 x10^9/L)
Elevated INR
What may be found in ALD on histology?
Mallory Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies
What are the treatments of ALD?
STOP ALCOHOL - Tx withdrawal if present
Detoxification regime if required
Healthy Diet / BMI
Pharmacological - Consider steroids short term
B1 & folate supplements
Surgical - Consider Liver transplant in ESLF
What can be given to treat withdrawal Sx of ALD?
Chlordiazepoxide
Diazepam
To be eligible for a liver transplant, how long must you have abstained from alcohol for?
3+ months
What are the complications of Alcoholic Liver disease?
Pancreatitis
HE
Ascites
HCC
Mallory Weiss Tear
WERNICKE KORSAKOFF SYNDROME
What is Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome?
A memory disorder that results from Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency caused by alcoholism as this is poorly absorbed in the presence of alcohol.
Wernickes Encephalopathy comes before Korsakoffs syndrome
What are the symptoms of Wernicke Encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome?
Wernicke Encephalopathy:
Confusion
Nystagmus
Ataxia
Korsakoff Syndrome:
Memory Impairment
Behavioural changes
How is Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome treated?
IV Thiamine (Vit B1)
Pabrinex
What is NALFD?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease:
excess fat with the liver, which is known as hepatic steatosis (i.e. fatty liver). A small amount of fat in the liver is normal, but when this is present in > 5% of hepatocytes we term it NAFLD
What are the risk factors for NAFLD?
Obesity
HTN
Hyperlipidaemia
T2DM
FHx - PNPLA3
Endocrine disorders
DRUGS
What is the Epidemiology of NAFLD?
NAFL May affect 25% of the population
NAFLD is now the most common cause of abnormal liver blood tests within the UK and estimated to affect > 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. These risk factors have also been associated with the development NAFLD and include:
What are the factors of Metabolic Syndrome?
Abdominal obesity: waist circumference > 94 cm men and > 80 cm women
Hypertension: arterial blood pressure > 130/85 mmHg or treated for
hypertension
Impaired fasting glucose: fasting blood glucose > 5.6 mmol/L or treated for type 2 diabetes mellitus
High triglycerides: serum level > 1.7 mmol/L
Low HDL cholesterol <1mg/dl in Men and 1.3mg/dl in women
What drugs are RFs for NAFLD?
NSAIDS
Amiodarone
What is the pathogenesis of NAFLD?
Accumulation of Fat within the liver promotes inflammatory changes.
Hepatosteatosis (NAFLD)
This can lead to liver injury promoting inflammation
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Excessive inflammation and hepatocellular death leads to fibrosis
Fibrosis leading to Cirrhosis
How would a NAFLD Px present?
Often ASx
Any findings are incidental
If severe NAFLD then Sx/signs of Liver failure
What are the diagnostic tests for NAFLD?
Bloods:
Abnormal LFTs - Inc PT/INR, Dec Albumin, Inc Bilirubin
FBC - Thrombocytopenia, Hyperglycaemia
Imaging:
1st line - Abdominal Ultrasound - confirms diagnosis of hepatic steatosis
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (EFL)
NAFLD fibrosis score
Fibroscan
Gold Standard - Biopsy is diagnostic
What investigation would be used to determine the cause of abnormal LFTs if the cause is unclear?
Non-invasive Liver screen:
FBC
LFT
U&E
Ultrasound
Hep B/C serology
Autoantibodies - AIH, PBC,PSC
Immunoglobulins - AIH, PBC
Caeruoplasmin - wilsons disease
Alpha 1 anti trypsin - A1AT Def
Ferritin/Transferrin - HH
How is the risk of fibrosis assessed?
Using FIB-4 (fibrosis score)
Detects stiffness of the liver
What is the Tx for NAFLD?
Lose weight (lower BMI) - Exercise
Control RFs:
Statins - cholesterol
Metformin - diabetes
ACEi - BP
Vitamins
What are some complications of NAFLD?
HE
Ascites
HCC
Portal HTN
Oesophageal Varices
What is Autoimmune Hepatitis?
Chronic liver inflammation (hepatitis) caused by autoimmune attack via T cells on the Liver.
It has an unknown cause but likely genetics and then an environmental trigger
What are the risk factors for autoimmune hepatitis?
Female
Other autoimmune diseases - SLE
Viral hepatitis
HLA DR3/4
What are the types of Autoimmune Hepatitis?
Type 1 - Adult females (80% of cases):
ANA/ASMA Abs - Very specific for T1 AIH
Type 2 - Young Females:
ALC-1/ALKM1 Abs
Seronegative AIH - 20% of AIH patients are autoantibody negative.
How may patients present with AIH?
25% ASx
40% with acute Hepatitis Sx:
Anorexia
Nausea
Coryzal symptoms
Jaundice
Right upper quadrant pain
Hepatomegaly
30% with Chronic Liver Disease Sx:
Non-specific features
Stigmata of chronic liver disease
Complications of cirrhosis
What are the diagnostic investigations for AIH?
Serology - ANA/ASMA +/- ALC-1/ALKM1
LFTs - Hepatic (ALT/AST Raised)
Liver Biopsy
What may be seen on liver biopsy to aid the diagnosis of AIH?
Interface hepatitis: inflammation and fibrosis at the lobular-portal interface
Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates: infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells
Hepatocyte necrosis: specifically ‘bridging necrosis’.
Hepatic Rosette formation: gland-like formations (Pseudoacini) that develop due to chronic inflammation.
What are the antibodies associated with AIH?
Anti-nuclear (ANA) - Type 1
Anti-Smooth muscle (ASMA) - Type 1
Anti-soluble liver and pancreas (SLA/LP) - 75% of Type 1
Anti-liver/kidney Microsomes (ALKM1) - Type 2
Anti-Liver Cytosol Antigen (Anti-LC1) - Type 2
Anti-mitochondrial (AMA) - mainly for PBC
What Immunoglobulin is associated with AIH?
IgG are raised
How is AIH treated?
Immunosuppressants via Corticosteroids (Prednisolone) + Azathioprine
Hep B vaccination
What is a last resort Tx for AIH?
Transplant consideration (10-20% of Px may have this)
What is the process of RBC breakdown?
RBC Hb is split into Haem and Globin
Haem is split into Iron and Biliverdin (via Haemoxygenase). Globin into amino acids which is recycled for erythrocytes
Biliverdin is converted to Unconjugated Bilirubin via biliverdin reductase
UnC Bilirubin is bound to albumin and transported to the liver
UDP GlucoronylTransferase (UGT) Conjugates Unc biliribin with Glucoronic acid to form Con Bilirubin.
Con Bilirubin enters the small intestine via the CBD and enters at the A.o.V
Con bilirubin is converted to urobilinogen via colonic flora.
5% - sent to kidneys to be oxidised and excreted as urobilin
5% - recycled via enterohepatic circulation
90% - Large intestine and reduced to stercobilin and excreted in faeces
What is Jaundice?
Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to accumulation of conjugated/unconjugated bilirubin in the blood.
What are the different types of Jaundice?
Pre-hepatic - Haemolysis
Intra-hepatic - Liver dysfunction
Post hepatic - Obstruction
What are the causes of Pre-hepatic jaundice?
Haemolytic anaemias:
Sickle cell
Thalassaemia
G6PDH Def
Malaria
What is raised in Pre hepatic jaundice?
Raised Unconjugated bilirubin due to increased RBC breakdown saturating conjugatory mechanisms
What are the causes of intra hepatic jaundice?
Parenchymal disease:
HCC
ALD/NAFLD
Hepatitis
Hepatotoxic drugs - Rifampicin
Gilberts syndrome
Crigler Najjar Syndrome
What is Raised in Intra hepatic jaundice?
Conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin
Can be mixed due to the failure of Hepatocytes to uptake, metabolise and or excrete bilirubin
What is Gilberts Syndrome?
Very common Autosomal recessive mutation of UGT1A1 gene
causes underactive UGT enzyme and therefore decreases CON bilirubin.
How may a Patient with Gilbert Syndrome present?
Young male
Painless jaundice that has sudden onset
What is Crigler Najjar Syndrome?
Autosomal recessive absence of UGT enzyme and therefore has an inability to conjugate bilirubin
What are the causes of Post hepatic Jaundice?
Biliary tree pathology
Choledocholithiasis - bile stone
Pancreatic cancer
cholangiocarcinoma
Mirizzi Syndrome
Autoimmune - PBC/PSC
What is Mirizzi Syndrome?
common hepatic duct obstruction caused by extrinsic compression from an impacted stone in the cystic duct or infundibulum of the gallbladder
What is raised in Post hepatic jaundice?
Conjugated bilirubin is raised due to biliary obstruction.
This causes pale stools and Dark urine.
What is Courvoisier sign and what would it suggest?
Painless jaundice and palpable GB
Likely pancreatic cancer/cholangiocarcinoma
What is the Charcot Triad?
Fever
RUQ Pain
Jaundice
What combination of Charcot Triads symptoms suggest which conditions?
RUQ pain = Biliarycolic
Fever + RUQ pain = Cholecystitis
Fever + RUQ Pain + jaundice = Ascending cholangitis
What is Murphys Sign?
RUQ Tenderness
Ask Px to take a breath in whilst pressing on RUQ
Makes them wince
+tve for Cholecystitis
How can the type of Jaundice be diagnosed?
1st line = Abdominal Ultrasound
Blood tests and LFTs
Urine bilirubin: normally -tve
+tve = Dark urine = post hepatic/intrahepatic
-tve in haemolysis causes
Urobilinogen: normally +tve
Increased in haemolysis - Pre hepatic
Decreased in Intra/post hepatic
What is pancreatic cancer?
Adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas
(99% of cases) of ductal origin.
Typically affects the head of the pancreas
who is typically affected by pancreatic cancer?
Males
60yrs +
What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?
Smoking
Males > 60
Alcohol
Diabetes Mellitus
FHx
Chronic pancreatitis
Genetics - PRSS-1 mutation
How would a patient with pancreatic cancer present/ what signs would they have?
Anorexia
Weight loss
Acute pancreatitis
Body and tail of pancreas:
Epigastric pain that radiates to back
Relieved by sitting forward
Head of pancreas:
Painless palpable gall bladder + jaundice (Courvoisier’s Sign)
Weight loss
What is the characteristic of the pain in a body/tail pancreatic cancer?
Epigastric pain
Radiates to the back
Relieved when sitting forward
What are the diagnostic investigations for pancreatic cancer?
1st line - abdominal ultrasound
GS - Pancreatic CT protocol then bile duct drainage
Ca19-9 tumour marker positive - monitors progression
What is the gold standard diagnostic investigation for pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic CT
Diagnostic in 97% of cases
+ Biopsy confirmation
What marker indicates progression of pancreatic cancer?
Ca19-9 tumour marker
What is the Treatment of pancreatic cancer?
Very poor prognosis - 5yr survival - 3%
surgery (whipple) + post op chemo if no mets
Palliative care
What is Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
arise from liver parenchyma
90% all primary liver cancers
What is the epidemiology of HCC?
One of the leading causes of cancer mortality
Highest risk in Asia due to increased burden of Viral Hepatitis
What are the major risk factors of HCC?
Chronic hepatitis - viral infection of Hep C and B
Cirrhosis of the liver - ALD/ NAFLD/ Haemochromatosis
What are some other risk factors for HCC (non major)?
Hepatitis D
Aflatoxin B1
Alcohol
Smoking
NAFLD
Metabolic Liver disease
Where do HCC metastases often travel to?
How do these travel?
Lymph nodes
Bones
Lungs
via haematogenous spread (hepatic/portal veins)
How would a patient with HCC present?
Sx of decompensated liver failure - HE, jaundice, ascites
Cancer signs - tATT, unexplained weight loss, Fatigue, N+V
What diagnostic investigations are done for HCC?
Imaging:
1st line - Abdo ultrasound
GS - CT (confirms diagnosis)
May also biopsy and Histology for diagnosis
Raised serum AFP (alpha fetoprotein)
What is the treatment of HCC?
Surgical Resection of the liver
Only cure is Liver transplantation if decompensated
What should be given to prevent HCC?
HBV Vaccination!!
What is a cholangiocarcinoma?
adenocarcinoma that arises from the biliary tree
What percentage of liver cancers are cholangiocarcinomas?
10%
What are the risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma?
Parasitic flukeworms
Biliary Cysts
Chronic Viral Hep B/C
IBD
PSC
How would a Px with cholangiocarcinoma present?
Signs of Cholestasis:
Courvoisier’s Sign - painless palpable gallbladder + jaundice
weight loss
pruritis
fever + fatigue
Late constellation Sx of tumour since it is slow growing
What diagnostic investigations would be used for a cholangiocarcinoma?
LFT - Inc Bilrubin, Inc Alkaline Phosphates
Inc Ca19-9
Imaging :
1st line - Abdo USS + CT
GS ERCP + Biopsy - imagine of biliary tree
What is the gold standard investigation for cholangiocarcinoma?
ERCP
What is the Tx of cholangiocarcinoma?
Chemo/radiotherapy possibly
ERCP - used to pace a stent in blocked bile duct to relieve Sx
Mostly inoperable due to late presentation of Px
What are some benign primary liver tumours?
Haemangioma
Hepatic Adenoma
What is more common, primary or secondary liver tumours?
Secondary are more common
Where can secondary Liver tumours come from?
GI tract
Lungs
Breast