Liver and GI Flashcards
signs of compensated liver disease
yellow sclera, spider naevi, gynacomastia, liver large or small, splenomegaly, clubbing, duputryens, scratch marks, pigmented ulcers
signs of decompensated liver disease
disorientated, drowsy, coma, hepatic flap, dilated abdo veins, oedema
What is jaundice?
skin/sclerae yellow discolouration due to raised bilirubin
which enzyme converts unconjugated bilirubin –> conjugated bilirubin?
glucuronyl transferase
Congenital cause of jaundice?
Gilbert’s syndrome
how does gilbert’s syndrome present? which gene is mutated?
asymptomatic incidental finding of raised unconjugated bilirubin.
Mutation in glucuronyl transferase (less of the bilirubin is conjugated.)
What clinical picture does cholestatic jaundice give?
pale stools, dark urine (bilirubin conjugated)
Intrahepatic causes of cholestatic jaundice?
hepatitis, drugs, alcohol, cirrhosis, neoplastic infiltrations
Extrahepatic causes of cholestatic jaundice?
duct stones, bile duct/pancreatic cancer, stricture, sclerosing cholangitis
How do you determine location of problem with LFTs?
Raised AST = intrahepatic
Raised ALP = extrahepatic
Ix of cholestatic jaundice?
LFTs, US of the biliary tree, hep A and B markers, prothrombin time
What is hepatitis?
liver cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration
Causes of hepatitis?
viral - A,B, C, EBV, CMV, yellow fever
Drugs - paracetamol
Alcohol
Other - wilson’s disease, haemochromatosis
Features of Hep A?
spread faeco-orally via contaminated shellfish/water
- jaundice, N&V, anorexia, hepatomegaly
Ix for hepatitis viral infections?
LFTs, HEP antibodies, ESR, bilirubin levels
How are hep B and C spread?
blood/blood products/sex
Prophylaxis against hep B and C?
avoid needle sharing/prostitutes, counselling patients, immunisation
features of fulminant liver failure
reduced attention, liver flap, disorientated in time, confused and coma
Features of autoimmune hepatitis?
anorexia, malaise, nausea, fatigue, palma erythema, spider naevi, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice
Mx of autoimmune hepatitis?
prednisolone, immunosuppressants
What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
same liver biopsy findings as those drinking lots, but in absence of heavy drinking
what diseases are affected by NAFLD?
obesity, T2DM, hyperlipidaemia
What do you see on an US of NAFLD?
hyperchoic texture/bright liver and fatty infiltratione
What is cirrhosis?
necrosis of liver cells followed by fibrosis and nodule formation. Result = impaired liver cell function and distortion of liver architecture
Name the 2 histology types of cirrhosis? + their causes
MICRONODULAR - uniform small 3mm nodules in diameter. Cause = alcohol/biliary tract dis
MACRONODULAR - variable nodule size and normal acini inbetween. Follows viral hepatitis
Ix for cirrhosis?
LFTs/FBC/prothrombin time/albumin/UEs/aFP/US liver and portal veins, endoscopy for varices, DXA for osteoporosis
Mx of cirrhosis?
correct the underlying cause. Immunisations. Liver transplant.
screen HCC - aFP and US 6 monthly
Name 3 complications of cirrhosis?
portal HTN, variceal haemorrhage, ascites
which veins meet to form the portal vein?
splenic vein and superior mesenteric
Features of portal vein HTN?
GI oesophageal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encepalopathy
How do you manage an active variceal haemorrhage?
- resuscitate the patient
- urgent gastroscopy –> band ligation
- Terlipressin (reduces portal blood flow)
- Somatostatin infusion
- balloon tamponade
- surgical ligation of barices
Transudate causes of ascites?
portal HTN, cardiac failure, cirrhosis