7.2 Hepatic and Pancreatic Disease Flashcards
Give 5 functions of the liver
Bile production Carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism Protein synthesis Vitamin D synthesis Detoxification Phagocytosis Vitamin and mineral storage
Give 2 tests that can assess hepatocyte damage
ALT/AST
y-GT
Give 2 tests that check for cholestasis
Bilirubin levels
ALP
Give 2 tests that test the synthetic function of the liver
Albumin
Prothrombin time
What is jaundice?
Yellow pigmentation of the skin and eyes
What is pre-hepatic jaundice?
Excessive haemolysis so liver is unable to cope with the excess bilirubin
Give an acquired, congenital and inherited cause for pre-hepatic jaundice?
Inherited- RBC membrane defect
Acquired- Infection
Congenital- Gilbert’s syndrome
What is hepatocellular jaundice?
Deranged hepatocyte function.
What causes hepatocellular jaundice?
Alcohol, hepatic tumours, viruses, congenital diseases, autoimmune hepatitis
What is post-hepatic jaundice?
Obstruction of the biliary system
What can cause post-hepatic jaundice?
Hepatitis, drugs, gallstones, biliary stricture, cirrhosis
What is liver cirrhosis?
Liver cell necrosis caused by nodular regeneration and fibrosis
How will cirrhosis present clinically?
Jaundice, anaemia, bruising, portal hypertension
How will portal hypertension present?
Splenomegaly, Ascites, Spider Naevi, Caput medusae, oesophageal varices
What is hepatic encephalopathy?
The liver can no longer remove toxins like ammonia. The accumulation of toxins causes comas, interllectual deterioration, flapping tremors and personality changes.
