Conditions Basic Flashcards
(21 cards)
Acute liver failure
- A rapid decline in hepatic function characterised by jaundice, coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with no evidence of prior disease
- Most commonly caused by Hep A, B and E
Alcoholic liver disease
- A condition that results from long term excessive consumption of alcohol on the liver
- The main cause of liver death in the UK
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Most common cause of chronic liver disease in the Western World
- Diagnosis is based on exclusion of other aetiologies
Acute hepatitis
- Inflammation of the liver lasting less than 6 months
- Can be viral, non-viral or non-infective
Chronic hepatitis
Inflammation that lasts more than 6 months
Hepatitis A
- Infection caused by HAV RNA virus
- Transmitted by faecal-oral route
Hepatitis B
- Infection caused by DNA HBV virus the most common liver infection globally
- Blood borne virus
Hepatitis C
RNA virus that spreads by the blood and body fluids
Hepatitis D
- Infection caused by a RNA virus that attaches itself to HBV and simultaneously infects the liver
- Blood and body fluid borne
Liver Cirrhosis
- The pathological end-stage of chronic liver disease most commonly resulting from HVB, HVC and alcohol and non-alcohol related liver disease
- Results in portal hypertension and liver insufficiency
Portal hypertension
- An abnormally high BP in the portal vein and its branches
- Resulting in varices, splenomegaly and ascites
Ascites
- Pathological collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity caused by cirrhosis of the liver causing portal hypertension
- Portal hypertension causes elevated hydrostatic pressure and decreased osmotic pressure
Jaundice
When the skin and/or sclera turns yellow as a result of accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin in the bloodstream and subsequent deposition in the skin, sclera and mucous membranes
Biliary colic
- Pain in the abdomen due to obstruction
- Most usually caused by stones in the cystic duct or common bile duct of the biliary tree
- Colic = sudden pain
Cholecystitis
- Acute inflammation of the gallbladder
- A major complication of gallstones
Cholelithiasis
The presence of solid concentrations in the gallbladder
Ascending cholangitis
- Acute infection of the biliary tree
- Can quickly become an acute septic, life-threatening infection that requires rapid evaluation and treatment
Primary biliary cholangitis
- Chronic disease of the small intrahepatic bile ducts characterised by progressive bile duct damage and eventually loss
- A complication of chronic portal tract inflammation , fibrosis develops and secondary effects of toxic bile acids retained in the liver results in cirrhosis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Acute pancreatitis
A disorder of the exocrine pancreas and associated with acinar cell injury with local systemic inflammatory response
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic inflammation of the pancreas resulting in fibrosis and reduced function of the pancreatic tissue
