Peer Teaching Liver Flashcards
Liver Damage - what results from inability to produce albumin
Hypoalbuminaemia
- > Oedema
- > Ascites
- > Leuconychia
Liver Damage - what results from inability to regulate excess oestrogen
Gynaecomastia in men
Spider naevi due to dilation of blood vessels caused by oestrogen
Palmar erythema
Liver Damage - what results from inability to produce clotting factors (except VII)
Easy bruising
Liver Damage - what results from inability to regulate bilirubin
Jaundice
Pruritus
Change in colour of urine and stool
Liver Damage - what happens to urea cycle
Hepatic encephalopathy from buildup of ammonia that crosses blood-brain barrier
Functions of the liver
Main organ involved in urea cycle
Protection against infection via the reticuloendothelial system (Kupffer cells)
Stpre gylcogen and involved in glycogenolysis
Produce albumin
Regulation of excess oestrogen
Produce clotting factors (except VII)
Regulate bilirubin
Results on liver damage
Portal hypertension - haematemesis
Clubbing
Dupuytren’s contracture
Hepatomegaly from intestinal oedema in inflammation
RUQ pain
Build up of ammonia (hepatic encephalopathy as ammonia can cross BBB)
etc…
Examples of LFTs
GGT (Gamma-glutamyltransferase) ALP (alkaline phosphatase) AST/ALT (Alanine transaminase) Bilirubin Albumin
When is GGT raised
Alcoholic liver disease
When is ALP raised
Biliary tree damage
Also bone resorption raised it
When is AST/ALT raised
Hepatocyte damage
Describe the progression of chronic liver disease
Chronic liver condition Liver damage Liver symptoms Liver cirrhosis if prolonged Liver failure ultimately + higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Define liver cirrhosis
normal smooth liver structure becomes distorted, with nodules surrounded by fibrosis, affecting the liver’s synthetic, metabolic and excretory actions
Most common risk factors that can cause liver cirrhosis
Alcohol misuse
Hepatitis B and C infection.
Obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2or more) or type 2 diabetes
What is compensated liver cirrhosis
when the liver can still function effectivelyand there are no, or few, noticeable clinical symptoms