Liver Disease Flashcards
Acute liver failure describes
the rapid onset of hepatocellular dysfunction leading to a variety of systemic complications.
Acute liver failure causes
paracetamol overdose
alcohol
viral hepatitis
acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Acute liver failure - viral hepatitis usually
A or B
Acute liver failure Features
jaundice coagulopathy: raised prothrombin time hypoalbuminaemia hepatic encephalopathy renal failure is common ('hepatorenal syndrome')
‘liver function tests’ do not always accurately reflect the synthetic function of the liver.
true
This is best assessed by looking at the prothrombin time and albumin level.
Liver cirrhosis remains a significant problem in the developed world, account for 60,000 deaths in the UK each year.
true
Liver cirrhosis - Causes:
alcohol
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
viral hepatitis (B and C)
Liver cirrhosis - Diagnosis
NAFLD
enhanced liver fibrosis score to screen for patients who need further testing
Liver cirrhosis liver biopsy is diagnostic
false
enhanced liver fibrosis score to screen for patients who need further testing
Liver cirrhosis reccomended imaging modalities
transient elastography and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging
What is transient elastography?
brand name ‘Fibroscan’
uses a 50-MHz wave is passed into the liver from a small transducer on the end of an ultrasound probe
measures the ‘stiffness’ of the liver which is a proxy for fibrosis
In terms of screening for cirrhosis NICE made a specific recommendation, suggesting to offer transient elastography to:
people with hepatitis C virus infection
men who drink over 50 units of alcohol per week and women who drink over 35 units of alcohol per week and have done so for several months
people diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease
NICE recommend doing what to check for varices in patient’s with a new diagnosis of cirrhosis
an upper endoscopy
liver ultrasound every ? (+/- alpha-feto protein) to check for hepatocellular cancer
6 months
Hepatitis B serology
what normally implies acute disease (present for 1-6 months)
HBsAg
Hepatitis B serology
if HBsAg is present for > 6 months then this implies
chronic disease (i.e. Infective)
Hepatitis B serology - Anti-HBs implies
immunity (either exposure or immunisation). It is negative in chronic disease
Hepatitis B serology - Anti-HBc
implies previous (or current) infection.
IgM anti-HBc appears
during acute or recent hepatitis B infection and is present for about 6 months.
IgG anti-HBc persists post infection
true
HbeAg is a marker of infectivity
true
results from breakdown of core antigen from infected liver cells
Hepatitis B serology in previous immunisation
anti-HBs positive, all others negative
Hepatitis B serology in previous hepatitis B (> 6 months ago), not a carrier
anti-HBc positive, HBsAg negative
Hepatitis B serology in previous hepatitis B, now a carrier
anti-HBc positive, HBsAg positive