Medicine - Gastroenterology Flashcards
what are the 3 stages of alcohol-related liver disease?
NAME?
is alcoholic hepatitis reversible?
if mild, it can be reversed with permanent abstinence
what is the recommended alcohol consumption?
- 14 units / week for both men and women| - spread over 3 or more days
what are the CAGE questions?
NAME?
what are the 2 screening tools for alcohol misuse?
- CAGE| - AUDIT
complications of alcohol misuse?
NAME?
signs of ALD? hint: there’s a LOT
NAME?
what are caput medusae?
superficial epigastric veins that are engorged
investigations and findings in ALD?
NAME?
findings of blood tests in ALD?
- FBC (raised MCV, macrocytic anaemia)- LFT (raised ALT, AST and gamma-GT, low albumin)- clotting (raised PTT) - UEs (deranged)
management of ALD?
NAME?
complications of cirrhosis?
NAME?
key criterion to be eligible for liver transplant?
they must have abstained from alcohol for 3 months prior to referral
alcohol withdrawal symptoms at 6-12 hours?
NAME?
alcohol withdrawal symptoms at 12-24 hours?
hallucinations
alcohol withdrawal symptoms at 24-48 hours?
seizures
what presents 24-72 hours after start of alcohol withdrawal?
delirium tremens
mortality rate of untreated delirium tremens?
35%
presentation of delirium tremens?
NAME?
management of alcohol withdrawal?
- chlordiazepoxide for 7 days - disulfiram (unpleasant reaction to alcohol)- IV pabrinex (B vitamins), then PO thiamine (B1)
what drug class is chlordiazepoxide?
benzodiazepine
how does alcohol excess cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?
- alcohol stops thiamine (B1) absorption| - thiamine deficiency causes WKS
features of Wernicke’s encephalopathy? is it reversible?
NAME?
features of Korsakoff’s syndrome? is it reversible?
NAME?
4 most common causes of cirrhosis?
- ALD- NAFLD- hepatitis B- hepatitis C
less common causes of cirrhosis?
- autoimmune hep- PBC- haemochromatosis and Wilsons disease - alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency - cystic fibrosis - drugs
drug causes of cirrhosis?
NAME?
signs O/E in cirrhosis?
NAME?
what is the tumour marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)?
alpha-fetoprotein
how is HCC screened for in cirrhosis patients?
6-monthly AFP levels and liver USS
first line investigation to assess fibrosis in NAFLD?
enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) blood test
USS changes seen in cirrhosis?
- nodular liver surface - “corkscrew” appearance of hepatic arteries (compensating for portal HTN)- enlarged portal vein with reduced flow- fluid- splenomegaly
what does fibroscan measure? how often should it be done in patients at high risk of cirrhosis?
- elasticity of the liver| - every 2 years
risk factors for cirrhosis?
- hep C- hep B- heavy alcohol consumption- existing ALD - existing NAFLD with fibrosis on ELF test
what is the Child-Pugh score?
scoring system used to determine the severity and prognosis of cirrhosis
which 5 things are assessed in the Child-Pugh score?
NAME?
what is the MELD score? who is it used on? how often is it done?
- to check if pt with compensated cirrhosis needs dialysis| - 6 monthly
how often does a patient with cirrhosis but no known varices need to be endoscopied?
every 3 years
complications of cirrhosis?
NAME?
management / prevention of malnutrition secondary to cirrhosis?
- regular meals every 2-3 hours - low Na diet (stops fluid retention)- high protein, high kcal diet - avoid alcohol
what causes varices?
NAME?
common sites for variceal veins?
NAME?
management of stable varices?
NAME?
management of portal HTN?
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
management of bleeding oesophageal varices?
NAME?
what is ascites? how does it develop?
- free fluid in the peritoneal cavity| - increased pressure in portal system forces fluid to leak out
what type of ascites does cirrhosis cause?
transudative (low protein)
management of ascites?
NAME?
how might SBP present?
NAME?
what might blood tests show in SBP?
NAME?
which 4 organisms most commonly cause SBP?
NAME?
management of SBP?
- take ascitic culture| - then IV cephalosporin (cefotaxime)
how does hepatorenal syndrome develop?
NAME?
prognosis of hepatorenal syndrome?
fatal within a week if no liver transplant
management of hepatorenal syndrome?
liver transplant
what is the primary toxin responsible for hepatic encephalopathy? where does it come from? why do cirrhosis patients get a build up of this toxin?
NAME?
presentation of hepatic encephalopathy?
- reduced consciousness| - confusion
precipitating factors for hepatic encephalopathy?
NAME?
management of hepatic encephalopathy?
NAME?
what are the stages of progression from NAFLD to cirrhosis?
NAME?
risk factors for NAFLD? (hint: think CVD risk factors)
NAME?
what is included in a non-invasive liver screen?
- USS liver- hep B and C serology - autoantibodies - immunoglobulins - caeruloplasmin - alpha-1 antitrypsin - ferritin and transferrin saturation
which conditions might be shown by autoantibodies on a non-invasive liver screen?
NAME?
which conditions might be shown by immunoglobulins on a non-invasive liver screen?
- autoimmune hepatitis| - primary biliary cirrhosis
marker of Wilsons disease on a non-invasive liver screen?
caeruloplasmin
which condition would cause low alpha-1 antitrypsin on a non-invasive liver screen?
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
markers of hereditary haemochromatosis on a non-invasive liver screen?
raised ferritin and transferrin saturation
which autoantibodies are on the non-invasive liver screen?
- antinuclear antibodies (ANA)- smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)- antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)- LKM-1 antibodies
investigations in NAFLD?
- liver USS (very basic, doesn’t show much) - ELF blood test - NAFLD fibrosis score if ELF unavailable- fibroscan is 3rd line
management of NAFLD?
NAME?
causes / types of hepatitis?
- alcoholic - NAFLD- viral (A-E)- autoimmune - drug-induced
how might hepatitis present?
NAME?
what are the LFT findings in hepatitis?
- AST and ALT rise disproportionately higher than ALP does| - raised bilirubin
which 2 enzymes are transaminases?
- AST| - ALT
what is the most common viral hepatitis worldwide?
hep A
what type of organism causes hep A? what is the route of transmission?
- RNA virus| - faeco-oral route
presentation of hep A? (hint: there is cholestasis) signs on examination?
NAME?
what type of organism causes hep B? what is the route of transmission?
- DNA virus| - blood / bodily fluid contact and vertical transmission
what % of hep B cases go on to become chronic? how quickly do the rest recover from it?
- 10-15%| - within 2 months
which viral marker indicates active hep B infection?
surface antigen (HBsAg)
which viral marker indicates high infectivity of hep B infection?
E antigen (HBeAg)
which viral marker indicates past / current hep B infection?
core antibodies (HBcAb)
which viral marker indicates vaccination / past / current hep B infection?
surface antibody (HBsAb)
which viral marker is a direct count of hep B viral load?
hep B virus DNA (HBV DNA)
which 2 viral markers are tested for in screening for hep B?
- core antibodies (HBcAb) for past infection| - surface antigens (HBsAg) for active infection
management of hep B?
NAME?
what are the possible complications of hep B? how can these be screened for?
- cirrhosis (fibroscan)| - HCC (USS)
what type of organism causes hep C? what is the route of transmission?
- RNA virus| - blood / bodily fluid contact
what % of hep C cases become chronic? is it curable?
- 75%| - yes, with direct acting antiviral medication
complications of hep C?
- cirrhosis| - HCC
how is hep C screened for? how is the diagnosis confirmed?
- hep C antibody test to screen| - hep C RNA testing to confirm (shows viral load)
management of hep C?
- screen for other bloodborne viruses and STDs- refer to GI, ID or hepatology for specialist input- notify PHE- stop smoking and alcohol- education on reducing transmission - direct acting antivirals (DAAs) for 12 weeks- liver transplant if end stage disease
what type of organism causes hep D? what is the route of transmission?
- RNA virus| - faeco-oral route
presentation of hep D? management of hep D?
NAME?
pathophysiology of autoimmune hepatitis?
T cells of immune system recognise liver cells as foreign and attacks them
what age group does type 1 autoimmune hep present in? how might it present?
- adults| - postmenopausal women with fatigue and liver disease signs O/E, less acute presentation
what age group does type 2 autoimmune hep present in? how might it present?
- children| - teens / 20yos with acute hepatitis, raised AST/ALT and IgG, jaundice, very acute presentation
which autoantibodies are found in type 1 autoimmune hep?
- antinuclear antibodies (ANA)- anti-smooth muscle antibodies (anti-actin)- anti-soluble liver antigen (anti-SLA)
which autoantibodies are found in type 2 autoimmune hep?
- anti-liver kidney microsomes-1 (anti-LKM1)| - anti-liver cytosol antigen type 1 (anti-LC1)
how is the diagnosis of autoimmune hep confirmed?
liver biopsy
management of autoimmune hep?
NAME?
what is haemochromatosis?
a genetic iron storing disorder which causes an excess of total body iron
which gene mutation (and chromosome) is associated with haemochromatosis?
mutation in the HFE gene on chromosome 6
inheritance pattern for haemochromatosis?
autosomal recessive
typically which age would haemochromatosis present at?
> 40 years old
why does haemochromatosis present later in females?
menstruation actively eliminates iron from the body
presentation of haemochromatosis?
- chronic tiredness - joint pain - bronze pigmentation of skin- hair loss - erectile dysfunction - amenorrhoea - cognitive (memory / mood disturbance)
investigations for haemochromatosis?
- serum ferritin level (diagnostic)- transferrin saturation - to see whether you need to do genetic testing- genetic testing (gold standard)- liver biopsy with Perl’s stain - CT abdo- MRI liver and heart
complications of haemochromatosis?
NAME?
management of haemochromatosis?
NAME?