Liver Pathology Flashcards
What are the main functions of the liver?
Protein synthesis and coagulatory factors synthesis
When are AST and ALT released?
When there is injury or inflammation, they are released
In which other pathologies is serum lactate dehydrogenase released (LDH)?
In hemolytic anemia
What is hepatitis?
Inflammation of the liver, can be acute or chronic
What are the causes of hepatitis?
Hepatotropic viruses: A, B, C, D, E
What are the other causes of hepatitis?
Other viruses like EBV, CMV, and yellow fever
Autoimmune hepatitis
Drugs and toxins
What is the most common type of hepatitis?
Viral
What do hepatitis viruses cause?
Acute hepatitis that can progress to chronic
What does acute hepatitis usually present with?
Jaundice
Dark urine
Fever
Malaise
Nausea
Elevated liver enzymes (ALT> AST)
What causes the jaundice of viral hepatitis?
Both the conjugated and the unconjugated bilirubin
What does conjugated bilirubin indicate?
Problem with the biliary system
What does unconjugated bilirubin indicate?
Usually hemolytic anemia, especially in infants
When can chronic hepatitis progress into cirrhosis?
When the symptoms last over 6 months
What is the purpose of performing a biopsy exam?
Important for grading (inflammation) and staging (fibrosis) of the disease, which is then used to diagnose whether a patient needs antiviral treatments.
Why do doctors try to avoid performing a biopsy?
Because it is an invasive procedure, so unless it is a chronic case, doctors try to avoid it
What does HEV case in pregnancy?
Fulminant hepatitis
Which hepatitis virus kinds are considered to be acute?
Hepatitis A & E
What can HBV cause?
Acute hepatitis with joint pain and skin rash
What is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis?
Hepatitis C that can cause cryoglobulinemia
What is cryoglobulinemia?
When cryoglobulin is increased in the blood, abnormal proteins are elevated in the blood, and those proteins thicken in cold temperatures
What is a specific HDV characteristic?
HDV is dependent on HBV, superinfection is more severe than co-infection
What is the difference between co-infection and superinfection?
Co-infection: both infections occur at the same time
Superinfection: firstly infected with HBV and later on infected with HDV
What are the main clinical features of hepatitis?
Abdominal pain (caused by hepatomegaly, which is caused by inflammation)
Fever
Jaundice
What are the lymphocytes like in viral hepatitis?
Abnormal or enlarged from antigen stimulation