(SYNOPTIC) Liver Disease & Management Flashcards
What percentage of the liver is comprised of hepatocytes?
60%
How many blood supplies does the liver have?
2
Hepatic artery (from heart) Portal vein (blood from the bowel)
What are the functions of the liver?
(1) Metabolism
(2) Synthesis
(3) Immunological
(4) Storage
(5) Secretion
(6) Homeostasis
What are some examples of substances metabolised in the liver?
- Products of digestion
- Bilirubin
- Steroid hormone
- Insulin
- Aldosterone
- Vitamin D
What is synthesised in the liver?
- Plasma proteins
- Clotting factors
- Cholesterol
- Urea (from amino acids)
What is stored in the liver?
- Fat soluble vitamins
- Glycogen
- Blood reservoir
What is secreted in the liver?
Bile + bile salts
What is the function of the liver in homeostasis?
Glucose regulation
Conversion of glucose to glycogen
What are some potential causes for chronic liver disease?
- alcohol
- NAFLD/ NASH
ø Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - immune/ autoimmune
- drugs
- malignancy
- HCV/ HBV
ø Hep C + Hep V
What are some potential causes for acute liver disease?
- HAV/ HBV/ HEV ø 3rd trimester of pregnancy - Drugs - TPN - Infection, e.g. malaria - Ischaemia - Alcoholic hepatitis - Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
What increases risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
- T2DM
- Obesity
- Dyslipidaemia
What may be the first presentation of NAFLD?
Cirrhosis
What is the non-pharmacological management of NAFLD?
- Weight loss
- Healthy diet
- Exercise
- Smoking/ alcohol cessation
- 2-3 cups of black coffee daily
What is the pharmacological management of NAFLD?
- Statins
- Treat HTN/ T2DM
What co-morbidities can make a HepC (HCV) infection worse?
(1) HIV
(2) Underlying cirrhosis
(3) Liver transplant
(4) Lifestyle
What is the process of chronic liver disease development?
(1) Insult
- e.g. toxin/ virus
(2) Hepatitis or steatohepatitis
(3) Reversible
- if cause is stopped, e.g. alcohol cessation
(4) If insult is not removed
(5) Fibrosis
- scarring + thickening of smooth muscle
(6) Cirrhosis
What is the general classification of liver disease?
(1) Compensated
- Asymptomatic due to medication/ sufficient healthy liver tissue for normal function
(2) Decompensated
- Symptomatic
What is a liver function test?
Used to identify patients struggling with liver/ biliary tract disease
What is a downside of liver function tests when checking for liver disease?
Some LFTs reflect liver DAMAGE rather than function
What results from a liver function test are considered a cause for concern?
3 times the upper limit of normal
How should a liver function test be used?
(1) Look for trends
(2) Do not use in isolation
What would a liver function test (LFT) show in acute hepatocellular damage?
HIGH - plasma ALT HIGH - plasma AST HIGH - bilirubin (unconjugated) PROLONGED - prothrombin time NORMAL - albumin
What would a liver function test (LFT) show in chronic hepatocellular damage?
NORMAL - ALT
NORMAL - AST
LOW - albumin
PROLONGED - prothrombin time
What would a liver function test (LFT) show in cholestasis (blockage of bile duct)?
HIGH - plasma ALP
HIGH - bilirubin (conjugated)
What other investigations can be done alongside a liver function test (LFT)?
(1) Ethanol
(2) Drug history
(3) FBC
(4) Clotting
(5) U+Es
(6) Liver ultrasound
(7) Biopsy
(8) Liver screen
- if obstruction ruled out
- check for viral causes
How is acute liver failure graded?
(1) Hyperacute
- 6-7 days
(2) Acute
- 8-28 days
(3) Subacute
- 29-84 days
In which liver failure grade(s) is cerebral oedema rare?
Subacute
In which liver failure grade(s) is cerebral oedema common?
Hyperacute/ acute/ subacute
(1) Hyperacute
(2) Acute
What is the prognosis for each liver failure grade?
Hyperacute - moderate
Acute - Poor
Subacute - Poor
What is used to grade chronic liver disease?
(1) Child’s Pugh Score
(2) MELD
- Model for end-stage liver disease
- OR UKELD
What are the grades for chronic liver disease using the Child’s Pugh Score?
(1) A 5-6 points COMPENSATED
(2) B 7-9 MODERATE
(3) C 10-15 ADVANCED
What is the MELD score used for?
Determining the mortality of end-stage liver disease
What are some common symptoms of liver disease?
(1) Jaundice - yellowing of eye
(2) Spider nevi in upper chest
(3) Ascites - accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity
(4) Clubbing of nails
(5) Dilated abdominal veins
(6) Ankle oedema
(7) Bleeding tendency due to decreased prothrombin time
Which blood vessel brings blood to the liver from the heart?
Hepatic artery
Which blood vessel brings blood to the liver from the bowel?
Portal vein
How many general functions of the liver are there?
6
What are the general functions of the liver?
(1) Homeostasis
(2) Storage
(3) Metabolism
(4) Immunological
(5) Secretion
(6) Synthesis
Name some causes of chronic liver disease.
- Alcohol
- NASH/ NAFLD
- Drugs
- Malignancy
- Autoimmune
- HCV/ HBV
- Metabolic, e.g. haemochromatosis
Name some causes of acute liver disease.
- Drugs
- TPN
- Ischaemia
- Infection
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
A range of liver diseases
From simple fatty liver -> Non-alcoholic seato-hepatitis -> Fibrosis/ cirrhosis
What are some risk factors for NAFLD?
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Dyslipidaemia (metabolic syndrome)
What is the non-pharmacological management for NAFLD?
- Weightloss
- Healthy diet
- Exercise
- Stop smoking/ alcohol
- 2-3 cups of black coffee daily
What is the pharmacological management for NAFLD?
- Treat BP
- Treat diabetes
- Statins
What patient groups are at higher risk of Hepatitis B?
- IV drug users
- Casual sex
- Close family members
- Babies born to infected mothers
- HCPs