Cirrhosis

Question 1

What are the causes of high serum ascites to albumin concentration gradient?

Answer 1

Cirrhosis
Alcoholic hepatitis
Budd Chiari syndrome
Fulminant hepatic failure
Congestive heart failure, constrictive pericarditis

Question 2

What are the causes of low serum ascites to albumin concentration gradient?

Answer 2

Peritoneal carcinomatosis
Tuberculosis
Pancreatic ascites
Nephrotic syndrome

Question 3

What are the signs of liver disease seen in the hands?

Answer 3

Leuconychia, clubbing, bruising, asterixis, palmar erythema.

Question 4

What are the signs most suggestive of cirrhosis?

Answer 4

Two or more of following suggests cirrhosis:

1) Spider naevi
2) Palmar erythema
3) Ascites
4) Hepatomegaly
5) Abnormal collateral veins on abdomen
6) Hepatic encephalopathy

Question 5

What are the signs of portal hypertension?

Answer 5

1) Splenomegaly
2) Collateral veins - haematemesis from varices
3) Ascites

Question 6

What are the broad categories causing portal hypertension?

Answer 6

1) Cirrhosis

2) Other: pre-sinusoidal, intra-hepatic, post sinusoidal.