Liver drugs Flashcards
Is ascites a transudate or an exudate?
Normally transudate
What does the Child score assess?
Ascites, Bilirubin, Albumin, PT or INR and encephalopathy
When the liver is cirrhosed enlarged or smaller?
Smaller.
Initially with liver failure, the liver is enlarged but the in cirrhosis it shrinks.
Why is a low sodium seen in liver failure?
ADH- Normally released when the blood is concentrated and not when the blood is diluted but this is over ridden by a low plasma volume present in liver failure due to low albumin meaning plasma water moves into the interstitium. => Retention of Na+ and water but this dilutes the Na+ and K+ so they appear low
Why is a low popotassium seen in liver failure?
Aldosterone removes K+ and blood is diluted by ADH activity which further lowers K+ concentration
Why is a low albumin seen in liver failure?
Low metabolic rate
Why should you not give NSAIDs for pain (related or unrelated) in liver failure?
NSAID will inhibit production of renal prostaglandins which are trying to dilate renal arteries to increase glomerular filtration and decrease renin release. If you give NSAIDs then you will proporgate ascites and fluid retention, right heart failure and hepatorenal syndrome. Also risk of cirrhotic peptic ulcers
Why should you not give paracetamol for pain (related or unrelated) in liver failure?
It has a longer half life and is not well metabolised by a liver in failure => increased risk of paracetamol toxicity
Why should you not give opiates for pain (related or unrelated) in liver failure?
Liver disease = at risk of encephalopathy
If you give sedative/opites this will make their brain function worse and put them at risk of respiratory depression.
How can you tell if a drug undergoes lots of first pass metabolism?
If the oral dose is massive and the IV dose is smaller.
Give some examples of drugs that are subject to extensive first pass metabolism?
GTN, Phenytoin
Calcium channel blockers
Why does the dosing of drugs (especially those with fist pass metabolism) have to be adjusted in liver failure?
Decreased metabolic function
Portal systemic shunting (anastamosis)
=> The plasma concentrations are much higher.
Which drugs show saturation (zero order) kinetics?
Alcohol and phenytoin
Why do heavy drinkers have a higher threshold for alcohol (threshold before entering saturation kinetics)?
They have induced liver enzymes so are better adapted to metabolising alcohol.
What are the circulation changes in liver failure (Due to low albumin)?
1) Low albumin = low plasma volume (decreased osmolarity)
2) Kindeys release renin and reninconverts angiotensinogen (liver) to angiotensin 1
3) Angiotensin 1 is converted to angiotensin 2 by ACE in pulmonary endothelium
4) Angiotensin 2 causes the release of aldosterone from adrenal glands => salt and water retention (ascites)
5) The liver is not able to metabolise the aldosterone well so plasma concentrations remain high (more salt and water)
SECONDARY ALDOSTERONISM.
Angiotensin 2 is also a potent vasoconstrictor.
What induces spider navi in liver failure?
Oestrogen (women get them in pregnancy)
Oestrogen is not metabolised by the liver in men and women with liver failure => Spider navi and gynacomastia
WHy is there an increase in endothelin in liver failure and what are the consequences?
Endothelin is not metabolised by the liver.
Potent vasoconstrictor increasing hypertension and oedema
What happens to the kidney in liver failure?
1) Angiotensin 2 causes renal artery constriction and decreases glomerular filtration rate => increased renin release
2) Aldosterone removes K+ and retains Na+
3) Systemic nervous system causes increased renal artery constriction, increasing BP and renin release
4) ADH- Normally released when the blood is concentrated and not when the blood is diluted but this is over ridden by a low plasma volume present in liver failure due to low albumin meaning plasma water moves into the interstitium. => Retention of Na+ and water but this dilutes the Na+ and K+ so they appear low