Gastroenterology (Liver 2/2) Flashcards
(44 cards)
types of hepatitis
- Alcoholic
- Heptatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D and E
- Autoimmune
- Drug- induced
hepatitis A
Type: RNA
Incubation: 2 weeks
Route: faecal oral
Long term: not associated with chronic liver disease
Hep A symptoms
Patients tend to have a flu-like prodrome and may have:
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Malaise
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Dark urine and pale stools
- Due to bilirubin excretion in the urine instead of the gastrointestinal tract, see Jaundice.
management of hepatitis A
1st-line: symptom management and analgesia + notify Public Health England
* All viral hepatitides are notifiable diseases
* Most cases of hepatitis A are mild and self-limiting
* Any severely unwell patient should be admitted to hospital
Hepatitis B
Type: double-stranded DNA
Incubation: 6-20 weeks
Route: infected blood or bodily fluids
Long term: can be self limiting but can result in chronic hep B - liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Risk Factors for Hep B
- Visiting or being born in high-risk countries
- Close contact with people infected with HBV
- Injecting intravenous drugs
- High-risk sexual behaviours (e.g. unprotected sex with multiple partners)
- Family history
- Infants born to mothers with HBV
presentation of Hep B
Many patients are asymptomatic until liver cirrhosis, failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma develops. Features seen may include:
- Flu-like prodrome: fever, chills, malaise, joint pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Right upper quadrant pain
- Jaundice
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Palmar erythema
- Spider naevi
- Ascites
- Asterixis
prevention of Hep B
Immunisation
investigations for Hep B
Liver function
Acute:
- Bilirubin – increased (usually >85 µmol/L)
- ALT, AST – increased (usually 500 – 10,000 IU/L) and ALT > AST
- ALP – may be raised to up to 2 times the upper limit of normal
Chronic
- AST and/or ALT may be slightly elevated or normal
Hepatitis serology
HBV DNA
- higher levels indicate greater infectivity and higher likelihood of developing complications
hepatitis serolgy
1) Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg):
- Suggests the patient is infectious
- Chronic hepatitis B is likely if this is elevated for >6 months
2) Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg):
- Associated with viral replication and a higher infectivity
3) Antibody to HBe (anti-HBe):
- Indicates an immune response and control of viral replication
- 4) Antibody to HBcAg (anti-HBc):
- Indicates current or previous HBV infection and persists for life
IgM antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBc IgM):
- Indicates recent (within the last 6 months) HBV infection
- This is released first by the immune system and is gradually replaced by IgG
5) IgG antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBc IgG):
- Indicates past infection
6) Antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs):
- Indicates recovery and immunity to HBV
- If there is no anti-HBc, the person has been vaccinated (as the core antigen is not given in the vaccine).
- If there is anti-HBc, the person has fought off a previous infection
management of Hep B
- 1st-line: referral to gastroenterology/hepatology and notify Public Health England
- Pegylated interferon is used for the treatment of HBV, although other antivirals such as entecavir may also be used.
Patients with Hep B should have screening for
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
patient advice for Hep B
Patients should avoid drinking alcohol as this can increase the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Patients should take steps to minimise transmission to other people:
- Avoid sharing items that may be contaminated with blood (e.g. toothbrushes and razors)
- Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse including oro-anal or oro-genital sex until they have become non-infectious or their partner has been immunised
- Avoid sharing needles
- Avoid donating blood, semen, or organs
Hepatitis C
Type: RNA
Incubation: 6-9 weeks
Route: infected blood or bodily fluids
Long term: can be self limiting but can result in chronic hep B - liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
RF for hepatitis C
- Close contact with people infected with HCV
- Injecting intravenous drugs
- High-risk sexual behaviours (e.g. unprotected sex with multiple partners)
- Family history
- Infants born to mothers with HCV
presentation of hep C
- Flu-like prodrome: fever, chills, malaise, joint pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Right upper quadrant pain
- Jaundice
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Palmar erythema
- Spider naevi
- Ascites
- Asterixis
investigations for Hep C
Liver function tests:
In acute hepatitis C:
- Bilirubin – increased (usually >85 µmol/L)
- ALT, AST – increased (usually 500 – 10,000 IU/L) and ALT > AST
- ALP – may be raised to up to 2 times the upper limit of normal
In chronic hepatitis C
- AST and/or ALT may be slightly elevated or normal
Hepatitis C RNA testing:
- If positive, send a repeat test for confirmation of infection
- If negative, send a repeat test after 6 months. If still negative, then the person has cleared the infection but is not immune to reinfection.
hepatitis prevention
no immunisation
BUT CAN BE CURED NOW
management of hep C
- 1st-line: refer to gastroenterology/hepatology and notify Public Health England
- Antivirals are given depending on the HCV genotype which is tested before treatment.
Hepatitis D
Type: RNA
Route: infected blood or bodily fluids
CANNOT GET INFECTION WITHOUT BEING CO-INFECTED WITH HEP B
Type: RNA
Incubation period: 3-8 weeks.
It causes a similar pattern of disease to hepatitis A but has more severe effects and higher mortality in pregnant people.
Like hepatitis A, hepatitis E does not cause chronic disease or an increased risk of hepatocellular cancer.
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology affecting the liver commonly seen in young women. It is associated with circulating autoantibodies, elevated serum IgG and increased serum transaminases.
AIH can be categorised into two main types based on the autoantibodies present:
Type 1 AIH – seen in adults and children and is associated with:
- Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
- Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)
- Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (pANCA)
- Anti-soluble liver antigen (SLA)
Type 2 AIH – seen in children only and is associated with:
- Anti-liver kidney microsomal-1 antibodies (LKM1)
presentation of autoimmune hepatitis
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Myalgia
- Pruritus
- Abdominal discomfort
- Small joint arthralgia
- Signs of advanced chronic liver disease (such as ascites, splenomegaly, spider naevi, palmar erythema etc.)