liver + friends Flashcards
tumour marker for pancreatic cancer
CA-19-9
hepatitis E brainstorm
- RNA hepevirus
- faecal-oral route
- incubation period: 3-8 weeks
- Central and South-East Asia, North and West Africa, and in Mexico
- similar disease to hep A, but carries a significant MORTALITY (20%) during PREGNANCY
- does not cause chronic disease or an increased risk of hepatocellular cancer
- CONSIDER IF PX HAS SIGNIF TRANSAMITIS IN 1ST TRIM PREG
- thrombocytopenia
- undercooked pork
post splenectomy vaccines + prophylactic abx
Pneumococcal vaccination (with regular boosters every 5 years).
Seasonal influenza vaccination (yearly, typically every autumn).
Haemophilus influenza type B vaccination (one-off).
Meningitis C vaccination (one-off).
low-dose prophylactic antibiotics - phenoxymethylpenicillin
what are some common causes of hepatomegaly
Cirrhosis: if early disease, later liver decreases in size. Associated with a non-tender, firm liver
Malignancy: metastatic spread or primary hepatoma. Associated with a hard, irregular. liver edge
Right heart failure: firm, smooth, tender liver edge. May be pulsatile
presentation of hepatitis A
incubation period 2-4 weeks
flu-like prodrome
nausea, arthralgia
can progress to cause hepatosplenomegaly + jaundice
common sources of hep A infection
contaminated water or food
shellfish
how is hep A transmitted
faecal-oral route
how is hep B transmitted
direct contact w/ blood or bodily fluids
ie sex
needle sharing (UVDU/tattoos)
can also be passed by sharing toothbrushes, razors or contact w open cuts
can be passed from mum to baby during preg
how to screen for hep B
test for HBcAb (core antibodies implying past or current infection)
HBsAg (surface antigen implying current infection)
if +ve test
HBeAg (e antigen - a marker for viral replication + implies high infectivity)
viral load (HBV DNA)
presentation of viral hepatitis
may be asymptomatic or present with non-specific symptoms of:
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Flu-like illness
Pruritus (itching)
Muscle and joint aches
Nausea and vomiting
Jaundice
how is hep C spread
blood and body fluids
which viral hep are there vaccine’s for
A
B
how to cure hep C
direct-acting antiviral meds - sofobuvir
what type of virus is the diff viral heps
A = RNA
B = double stranded DNA
C = RNA
D = RNA
E = RNA
mx of hep C
direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) - sofobuvir
what is special about hep D
it can only survive in px who also have hep B
increases comps + severity of B
tx of hep D
pegylated interferon alpha over at least 48 weeks - not v effective + signif SEs
how is hepE transmitted
faecal-oral route
tx for hep E
usually v mild illness + no tx req
why might bilirubin be raised
obstruction of biliary tree
increased production
what might low albumin mean
oedema
what does a raised ALP mean
biliary obstruction
(or bone malignancy)
In patients with cholestasis (e.g., due to gallstones), ALT and AST can increase slightly, with a higher rise in ALP (“an obstructive picture”).
If ALT and AST are high compared with the ALP level, this is more indicative of a problem inside the liver with hepatocellular injury (“a hepatitic picture”).
other causes:
ALKPHOS pneumonic
Any fracture
Liver damage (post hepatic)
Kancer
Paget’s disease of bone and Pregnancy
Hyperparathyroidism
Osteomalacia
Surgery
what do raised ALT and AST mean
markers of hepatocellular injury
In patients with cholestasis (e.g., due to gallstones), ALT and AST can increase slightly, with a higher rise in ALP (“an obstructive picture”).
If ALT and AST are high compared with the ALP level, this is more indicative of a problem inside the liver with hepatocellular injury (“a hepatitic picture”).
mx of alcoholic hepatitis
steroids in acute eps
what are the causes of increased ferritin without iron overload
inflammation
alcohol excess
liver disease
CKD
malignancy
can see if iron overload is present using transferrin saturation
what are the causes of increased ferritin w iron overload
primary iron overload - hereditary haemochromatosis
secondary iron overload - following repeated transfusions
what is budd-chiari syndrome
blockage of the hepatic veins by a blood clot
budd-chiari syndrome presentation
The features are classically a triad of:
- abdominal pain: sudden onset, severe
- ascites → abdominal distension
- tender hepatomegaly
initial ix for budd-chiari
ultrasound with Doppler flow studies
what is gilbert’s syndrome
an inherited (usually autosomal recessive) metabolic disorder
mild and intermittent elevation of unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin levels, due to defective conjugating enzymes in the liver
how to best assess acute liver failure
by looking at PROTHROMBIN time and albumin level
(prothrombin has shorter half-life so is best) Therefore INR is best
Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis antibodies and who gets it
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)
Affects both adults and children
Will have raised IgG levels
Type II autoimmune hepatitis antibodies and who gets it
Anti-liver/kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1)
Affects children only
what is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
form of peritonitis seen in patients with ascites secondary to liver cirrhosis
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis presentation
ascites
abdominal pain
fever
dx spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
paracentesis: neutrophil count > 250 cells/ul
the most common organism found on ascitic fluid culture is E. coli
tx spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
IV cefotaxime
abx prophylaxis after
what does cholecystokinin (CCK) do
Stimulates the gallbladder to contract + release stored bile upon detection of foods in stomach
what does bile contain
cholesterol
bile pigments - from broken down hb
phospholipids
causes of pre hepatic jaundice
excess haemolysis , increased unconjugated bilirubin
maleria
sickle cell anaemia
haemolytic disease of the newborn
gilberts syndrome
causes of hepatic jaundice
viral hepatitis
drugs
alcohol
cirrhosis
causes of post hepatic jaundice
obstruction of biliary system
gallstones
pancreatitis
risk factors for gallstones
F – Fat
F – Fair
F – Female
F – Forty
biliary colic
Severe, colicky epigastric or right upper quadrant pain
Often triggered by meals (particularly high fat meals)
Lasting between 30 minutes and 8 hours
May be associated with nausea and vomiting