Liver Disease Flashcards
What is of the definition acute liver disease?
Rapid development of hepatic dysfunction
What actually is acute liver disease?
Any insult to the liver causing damage in a previously healthy and normal liver
What is acute liver failure?
Damage that causes encephalopathy and prolonged coagulation
How does acute liver disease present?
Jaundice Lethargy Nausea Anorexia Pain Itching Arthralgia ABNORMAL LFTs
What can cause Acute liver disease?
Viral hepatitis Eppstein Barr Virus Drugs Shock liver (ischaemic hepatitis) Cholangitis Alcohol Malignancy Paracetemol
What are the more rarer causes of acute liver disease?
Budd Chiari
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Cholestasis of pregnancy
How do you diagnose acute liver disease?
LFT's Prothrombin time History and exam Ultra sound Virology Investigations of chronic liver disease Liver biopsy (rarely)
What is the treatment for acute liver disease?
Rest, 3-6months for recovery Fluids NO alcohol Increase calories, reduce fat Treat itch with bicarbonate bath/cholestryamine/uresodeoxycholic acid Observe for fulminant liver failure
What are the nutritional requirements for acute liver disease?
Increase protein and calorie intake
Consider how low their appetite may be and take steps to conquer that
May require NG feeding
Supplement K, PO4 adn Mg
Which drugs can cause acute liver disease?
Antibiotics like coamoxiclav, flucloxacillin
NSAIDs
Statins (rare)
Drugs like “fat burners” and “protein powders”
Paracetemol
What is fulminant hepatic failure?
Jaundice and encephalopathy in those patients with a previously normal liver
What can commonly cause FHF?
Paracetemol
Viral causes
Drugs
Hep B
What can rarely cause FHF?
AFLP Mushrooms Malignancy Wilsons Budd Chiari Hep A
What is Budd Chiari?
Occlusion of the hepatic vein
What are the complications of FHF?
Encephalopathy Hypoglycaemia Coagulopathy Circulatory failure Renal failure Infection
