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Alimentary System > Jaundice and Chronic Liver Disease > Flashcards

Jaundice and Chronic Liver Disease Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

what does the liver synthesise?

A 
> clotting factors
>bile acids
> carbohydrates
> proteins
> lipids
> hormones
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2
Q

in what way is liver involved in detoxification?

A

> produces urea from ammonia
detoxifies drugs
metabolises bilirubin
breaks down insulin and hormones

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3
Q

what does the liver store?

A

> glycogen
vitamin A, D, B12 AND k
copper
iron

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4
Q

what is bilirubin generated by

A

> senescent RBC’s in spleen

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5
Q

why may bilirubin levels be elevated?

A

> haemolysis
parenchymal damage
obstruction

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6
Q

what is bilirubin initially bound to?

A

albumin

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7
Q

what are amino transferases?

A

enzymes present in hepatocytes

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8
Q

where is alkaline phosphatase present?

A

> bile ducts
bone
placenta
intestines

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9
Q

with what is alkaline phosphatase elevated?

A

obstruction or liver infiltration

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10
Q

what can elevate gamma GT levels?

A

> alcohol use

> NSAID’s

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11
Q

what does albumin test for?

A

synthetic function of the liver

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12
Q

what do low albumin levels suggest?

A

> chronic liver disease
kidney disorders
malnutrition

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13
Q

what does prothrombin time test tell you?

A

the degree of liver dysfunction

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14
Q

what tests are carried out to assess transplant need?

A

> prothrombin time
creatinine

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15
Q

what is platelet count an indirect marker for?

A

portal hypertension

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16
Q

why would platelet count by low in cirrhotic patients?

A

cirrhosis results in splenomegaly and platelet counts are low due to hypersplenism

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17
Q

what are general symptoms of liver failure?

A

> jaundice
ascites
variceal bleeding
hepatic encephalopathy

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18
Q

define jaundice

A

yellowing of the skin, sclerae and other tissues due to excess circulating bilirubin

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19
Q

at what total plasma bilirubin level is jaundice detectable?

A

levels exceeding 34 umol/L

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20
Q

what is the differential diagnosis for jaundice?

A

carotenemia

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21
Q

what could cause pre-hepatic jaundice?

A

> Increased quantity of bilirubin (Haemolysis)

> Impaired transport

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22
Q

what are the reasons for hepatic jaundice?

A

> Defective uptake of bilirubin
Defective conjugation
Defective excretion

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23
Q

what classification of jaundice is caused by defective transport of bilirubin by the biliary ducts?

A

post hepatic jaundice

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24
Q

what would be the history of prehepatic jaundice?

A

> anaemia (fatigue, dyspnoea, chest pain)

> acholuric jaundice

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25
what would you expect to find in a history of someone who has hepatic jaundice?
> liver disease risk factors (drugs) | > decompensation (ascites, variceal bleed, encephalopathy)
26
what would you expect to see in a history of someone with posthepatic jaundice?
> abdominal pain | > cholectasis
27
what would you see in clinical examination in prehepatic jaundice?
> pallor | > splenomegaly
28
what would you see in clinical examination in hepatic jaundice?
> spider naevi, gynaecomastia > ascites > asterixis
29
what sort of jaundice would you feel a palpable gallbladder?
post hepatic jaundice
30
what investigations would be carried out in jaundice?
> liver screen | > ultrasound of the abdomen
31
what does a liver screen test?
``` > hepatitis b and c serology > serum immunoglobulins > copper levels > ferritin and transferritin saturation > alpha antitrypsin > fasting glucose and lipid profile ```
32
why is ultrasound of the abdomen the most important test in jaundice?
> differentiates extrahepatic and intrahepatic obstruction > delineates site of obstruction > delineates cause of obstruction > documents evidence of portal hypertension > preliminary staging of disease extent
33
why would a MRCP be better than a ERCP?
> no radiation > no complication risk > can image outwith the ducts
34
when is therapeutic ERCP used?
> dilated biliary tree (visible stones, tumour) > acute gallstone pancreatitis > stenting biliary obstruction > post-operative biliary complications
35
what complications are associated with ERCP?
> pancreatitis > cholangitis > shpincterotomy (bleeding, perforation)
36
when is percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram carried out?
for hilar stenting when ERCP is not possible due to duodenal obstruction or previous surgery
37
what is the disadvantage of using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram instead of ERCP?
it is more invasive
38
what is endoscopic ultrasound used for?
> characterising pancreatic masses > staging tumours > fine needle aspirate of tumours and cysts > excluding biliary microcalculi
39
define chronic liver disease
liver disease that persists beyond 6 months
40
name some things that can cause liver cirrhosis
``` > alcohol > autoimmune disease > haemochromatosis > NAFLD > Drugs > cystic fibrosis > vascular problems ```
41
what pathological changes occur in the liver due to cirrhosis?
the injury to the liver causes the sinusoids to become blocked, pressure increases in them and blood cannot flow. bypass channels are created to go around them. hepatocytes apoptose and fibrosis healing occurs.
42
how may compensated cirrhosis present?
> abnormality in liver function tests and routinely detected in screening
43
how may decompensated cirrhosis present?
> ascites > variceal bleeding > hepatic encephalopathy
44
what are the clinical features of ascites?
> shifting dullness > corroborating evidence (spider neavi, palmar erythema, abdominal veins, fetor hepaticus, umbilical nodule, jvp elevation, flank hematoma)
45
what should all patients who have new onset ascites have?
diagnostic paracentesis: > protein and albumin concentration > cell count > SAAG serum ascites albumin gradient
46
in what conditions would SAAG levels be low?
> malignancy > exudative > tuberculosis
47
what is optional to analyse in ascetic fluid?
``` > culture > glucose > LD > amylase > gram stain ```
48
in what conditions would SAAG levels be high?
> portal hypertension > constrictive pericarditis > mass liver metastasis
49
what are the treatment options for ascites?
``` > diuretics > large volume parcentesis > TIPS (shunt) > aquaretics > liver transplantation ```
50
what causes varices?
portal hypertension
51
where are varices found?
``` at porto-systemic anastomoses: > skin > oesophagus/gastric > rectal > posterior abdominal wall > stomal ```
52
what is the management of varices?
``` > resuscitation > blood transfusion > emergency endoscopy > endoscopic band ligation > sengstaken-blakemore tube for uncontrolled bleeding ```
53
what is hepatic encephalopathy?
confusion due to liver disease
54
how is hepatic encephalopathy graded?
from 1-4
55
what can hepatic encephalopathy precipitate from?
``` > GI bleed > infection > constipation > dehydration > sedation (medication) ```
56
what are the signs of hepatic encephalopathy?
> confusion > flap tremor > asterixis > foetor hepaticus
57
how do you manage hepatic encephalopathy?
> treat underlying cause > laxatives > broad spectrum non-absorbed antibiotics: neomycin, rifaximin > repeated admission=transplant
58
how does hepatocellular carcinoma present?
``` > abdominal mass > abdominal pain > weight loss > bleeding > decompensation of liver disease ```
59
how do you diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma?
> tumour markers: AFP > ultrasound, ct, mri > (liver biopsy rarely done)
60
what is the treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma?
``` > hepatic resection > liver transplantation > chemotherapy > local ablative treatment (alcohol injection, radiofrequent ablation) > sorafenib > hormonal therapy ( tamoxifen) ```

Alimentary System (33 decks)

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