Liver Disease Flashcards
What is one unit of alcohol?
10ml of pure alcohol
What are the daily recommended units for men and women?
Men = 3 units/day Women = 2 units/day
Outline the two main ways ethanol is metabolised to acetaldehyde in the liver
Via alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) producing NADH and H+. OR, by MEOS (microsomal ethanol oxidising system) which produces ROS
Outline the process of alcohol metabolism
Ethanol converted to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenated by ALDH to produce acetate (all of this reduces NAD+ to NADH)
Where is alcohol absorbed?
Stomach and small intestine
Where is alcohol metabolised?
Liver
What are the three stages of alcoholic liver disease?
Hepatic steatosis (reversible fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis (infiltration by leukocytes and hepatocyte necrosis) then cirrhosis … this can lead to the development of alcoholic pancreatitis which can be fatal
How may someone with acute hepatitis C present?
Asymptomatic or with non-specific symptoms such as anorexia, lethargy and abdominal pain
What is cirrhosis?
The pathological end-stage of any chronic liver disease which involves irreversible liver damage
What are some of the causes of liver cirrhosis?
Chronic viral hepatitis B or C, alcoholic liver disease, metabolic disorders (haemochromotosis), autoimmune liver disease
What are some of the clinical features of liver cirrhosis?
Jaundice, malaena (ano-rectal varices), spider nave, palmar erythema, hepatosplenomegaly distension
What are the absolute contraindications for liver transplantation?
Active sepsis outside of the hepatobiliary tree, malignancy outside liver, non-compliance to drug therapy
What are the relative contraindications for liver transplantation?
Anatomical considerations and/or severe cardiorespiratory problems
