liver issues Flashcards
what are the 4 major functions of the liver
Metabolism &/or storage of:
Fat, CHO, PRO, vitamins and minerals
Blood volume reservoir
Distends/compresses to alter circulating blood volume
Blood filter
Helps purify blood
Blood clotting factors
Including prothrombin & fibrinogen
Drug metabolism and detoxification
what is jaundice
caused by increased level of bilirubin in the bloodstream
usually when total bilirubin is greater than 2-2.5 mg/dl
3 classes of jaundice
Hemolytic increased breakdown of RBCs
Hepatocellular liver unable to take up bilirubin from blood or unable to conjugate it
Obstructive decreased or obstructed flow of bile
what is bilirubin
By product of heme breakdown mainly hemoglobin
Elevations of INDIRECT bilirubin =
bilirubin overproduction OR impaired liver functioning
Elevations of DIRECT bilirubin =
liver working, but can’t get the bilirubin out
clinical manifestations of jaundice
Urine darker
Liver enzymes = elevated
Stools = Normal or clay colored
Pruritis
what can cause hepatitis other than the infection
alcohol abuse
drugs
chemicals
bacteria
Viral hepatitis patho
Viral infection
Immune response: inflammatory mediators
Lysis of infected cells
Edema and swelling of tissue
Tissue hypoxia
Hepatocyte
death!
T/F Many cases of ALL types of hepatitis are asymptomatic
TRUE
prodromal hepatitits
2 weeks after exposure
Fatigue, anorexia, malaise, nausea, vomiting, HA hyperalgesia, cough, low-grade fever
HIGHLY transmissible
Iceteric hepatitis
Begins with jaundice
Jaundice, dark urine, clay-colored stools
Liver enlarged and may be painful to palpation
Fatigue abdominal pain persists or increases in severity
Recovery hepatitis
Resolution of jaundice
6-8 weeks after exposure, symptoms diminish
Liver remains enlarged/tender
Complications of viral hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis
Liver cirrhosis (next section)
Liver cancer
Fulminant viral hepatitis – acute liver failure
transmission of Hep A
fectal-oral, parental, sexual
Hep A characteristics
Acute onset with fever Usually mild severity Does NOT lead to chronic hepatitis Usually affects children and adult Hand hygiene, Hep A vaccine
hep b transmission
parental, sexual
hep b characteristics
Insidious onset
Severe disease, may be prolonged course or develop into chronic
Any age group affected
HBV vaccine and safe sex and hygiene