Liver Tutorial Flashcards
How does hepatitis often present?
- raised ALT compared to ALP
- Moderate jaundice
- Smooth, tender hepatomegally
How does hepatitis A present?
Flu like illness - anorexia, myalgia, nausea and headaches
Last 2 days felt better but now jaundice
Causes of hepatitis
- Serology - Hep A,B,C (hep C often subclinical)
- Autoimmune
- EBV
- Meds eg NSAIDs
- Paracetamol overdose
How does cholangiocarcinoma present?
- Painless jaundice - months
- Aypyrexial
- Very high ALP compared with ALT
Could also be pancreatic malignancy
How to tell between pancreatic maliganncy and biliary malignancy?
ERCP - stent if stricture present, get brushings to do histological testing on
Presentation of ascending cholangitis
- RUQ pain
- Fever
- Jaundice
- History of gallstones/biliary colic
Differential for ascending cholangitis triad
Liver abscess - USS scan to see if dilated bile ducts (AC) or holes in liver with fluid levels (abscess)
Abx for ascending cholangitis
Tazocin IV (Piperacillin and Tazobactam - beta lactamase inhibitor)
What is presentation of primary biliary cholangitis?
- Pruritus
- Mild jaundice
- Antimitochondrial antibody positive
- Liver US normal
What is primary biliary cholangitis?
Autoimmune destruction of small bile ducts within liver
Parenchymal damage
Leads to cirrhosis
Primary biliary cholangitis vs primary sclerosing cholangitis
- PBC - affects small ducts, more common, antimitochondiral ab +ve
- PSC - affects ANY duct, no antibody - use ERCP and MRCP to diagnose
Treatment for primary biliary cholangitis
Ursodeoxycholic acid - bile acid replacement, decreases damage to liver
How to tell cause of ascites?
- Do SAAG - serum ascitic albumin gradient
- This shows the portal pressure
- Serum albumin minus ascitic albumin
- If more than 11g/L this shows portal HTN = cirrhosis
- If less, must be no cirrhosis so other cause of ascites inc cancer? TB? Nephrotic syndrome?
What are those with cirrhosis at risk of that can present as general unwellness?
- Spontaenous bacterial peritonitis
- Translocation of gut microbes into ascitic fluid = multiplication
- Treat with antibiotics
Which are more at risk of peritonitis if bowel ruptured cirrhotic patients or malignancy?
- Cirrhotic patients as their ascitic fluid is just water and sugar as fluid build up is due to increased hydrostatic pressure
- In malignancy the vessels become more permeable = leakage of proteins inc immunoglobulins which can kill microbes
Which conditions which cause ascites cause a high SAAG?
- Heart failure
- Cirrhosis
What can be a post hepatitis C complication that can present years later with fatigue?
- Hep C associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Tumour marker for hepatitis C associated hepatocellular carcinoma
AFP - alpha feto protein
Treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma
If less than 3cm - offer liver transplant
If 5cm or more - offer embolisation and chemotherapy - block blood supply
What value of HCV RNA PCR suggests no detectable infection?
Less than 15 copies / ml means virus is undetectable
Meaning of HBsAg?
- Hepatitis Surface Antigen
- If present shows that infection of heptatits B is present
What is HBcAb IgM?
- Hepatitis B core antibody IgM / aka IgM anticore
- If positive shows infection is acute, if not infection is chronic
What is HBeAg?
- Hepatitis B e antigen
- If positive shows virus is rapidly multiplying
What is HBeAb?
- Hepatitis B e antibody
- If present shows body is having immune response to hepatitis B