Title: ABIM Board Review: Hepatology
1ABIM Board ReviewHepatology
2Hepatocellular liver disease
- Transaminase elevation
- AST, ALT
- Two categories
- Acute
- Chronic
3Acute hepatitis
- Symptoms
- Fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice
- Fevers, diarrhea, vomiting
- Labs
- AST/ALT gt 500, sometimes gt 1000 or 5000
- Usual etiology
- viral (HAV, HBV, HSV)
- medication (acetaminophen, antiepileptic, CAM)
- ischemia
4Chronic hepatitis
- Usually asymptomatic
- Labs
- AST/ALT lt 500 (usually lt 150), sometimes normal
- Usual etiology
- viral (HBV, HCV)
- NASH
- Autoimmune
- Metabolic
5Cholestatic liver disease
- Two types
- Intrahepatic
- PBC, PSC, drug-induced, infiltrative (cancer,
sarcoid, amyloid) - Extrahepatic
- Gallstones, pancreatic cancer
6Categories
- Viral
- Toxin-mediated
- Autoimmune
- Metabolic
7Viral hepatitis
8HAV
- Half of all causes of viral hepatitis in US
- Fecal-oral transmission
- Day care, travel, raw shellfish, MSM
- Jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea
- Think Young medical student with one week of
malaise, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, jaundice
after eating raw oysters in Guatemala during a
mission trip
9HAV
- Diagnosis
- Anti-HAV IgM
- Treatment
- Supportive (self-limited infection)
- Prophylaxis
- Immune globulin (HBIg) to close contacts within 2
weeks - Vaccinate travelers, high risk, or concominant
liver disease
10HBV
- Represents 20-30 of acute viral hepatitis and
15 of chronic viral hepatitis in US - Much more common in Asia and Africa
- Risks
- Sexual, needles
- Vertical
- Can be fulminant presentation
- Vaccine available
11HBV serologies
- HBsAg
- Active viral replication
- Anti-HBs (IgG)
- Exposure to virus
- Vaccination
- Anti-HBcore (IgM, IgG)
- Exposure to virus
- False positive
- HBV DNA
- Confirm infection
- Treatment
12HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
- M -G
- -M G -
- - -
- -M G Low
- -M G High
13HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
Acute infection - M -G
- -M G -
- - -
- -M G Low
- -M G High
14HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
Acute infection - M -G
Cleared infection - -M G -
- - -
- -M G Low
- -M G High
15HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
Acute infection - M -G
Cleared infection - -M G -
Vaccine - - -
- -M G Low
- -M G High
16HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
Acute infection - M -G
Cleared infection - -M G -
Vaccine - - -
Inactive carrier - -M G Low
- -M G High
17HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb HBV DNA
Acute infection - M -G
Cleared infection - -M G -
Vaccine - - -
Inactive carrier - -M G Low
Chronic with replication - -M G High
18HBV
- Course
- Perinatal ? almost always chronic
- Adult ? almost always clear it
- CHB with normal LFTs, low HBV DNA, normal biopsy
? good prognosis - CHB with abnormal LFTs, active replication,
abnormal biopsy ? worse prognosis - High risk of cirrhosis, HCC
19HBV
- Treatment
- Indications
- Abnormal LFTs
- HBV DNA gt 105
- Abnormal liver biopsy
- Agents
- Lamivudine
- Adefovir
- Entecavir
- IFN
20HBV
- HCC surveillance
- Ultrasound and AFP every 6-12 months
- Who
- HBV cirrhotics
- No cirrhosis but early age of infection and Asian
pt with family history of HCC, Asian men gt 40,
Asian women gt 50, Africans gt 20 - Think Asian IVDU patient with multiple sexual
partners with abnormal LFTs, family history of
liver problems/cancer
21HCV
- Most common bloodborne infection in US
- Usually asymptomatic
- Associated with leukocytoclastic vasculitis
- Chronic infection
- Only about 15-20 of patients clear the initial
infection - Variable duration to cirrhosis
- Transaminase levels do not accurately predict
severity of disease
22HCV
- Risks
- IVDU, blood transfusion (before 1990s), tattoos
- Diagnosis
- Anti-HCV
- HCV RNA
- Treatment
- IFN, ribavirin
- No vaccine
23HCV
- Assessing pt
- Determining possible time of infection
- AST/ALT
- Genotype
- HCV RNA quant
- Liver biopsy
- Who to treat
- Genotype 2 or 3
- Those at risk of cirrhosis
- Long duration of HCV, alcohol use, stage 2-3
fibrosis - Extrahepatic manifestations of HCV
24HCV
- If no treatment is indicated, need yearly
evaluation with labs, etc. - Consider repeat biopsy in 3-5 years
- If cirrhotic
- Highest risk of morbidity and mortality
- Ultrasound and AFP every 6-12 months
- Transplant evaluation
- VACCINATE against HAV and HBV
25HDV
- Requires HBV to infect a liver
- Coinfection
- Superinfection
- Risk in US IVDU with HBV
- Think IVDU pt with HBV gets a flare of disease
26HEV
- Self-limited, tropics
- PREGNANCY
- may develop fulminant failure
27Toxin-related liver disease
28Alcoholic liver disease
- Along with HCV, top cause of chronic liver
disease in US - Frequently accompanies HCV due to risky lifestyle
- Adds risk to pt with pre-existing liver disease
- Amounts
- Men gt60-80g (6-8 drinks) daily x 5 years
- Women gt30-40g (3-4 drinks) daily x 5 years
29Alcoholic liver disease
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Fevers, jaundice, signs of portal HTN
- AST/ALT gt 2/1 (and usually lt 300)
- Elevated WBC common
- Discriminant function (PT and TB)
- gt32 50 30-day mortality
- May require steroids
30Alcoholic liver disease
- Treatment
- Abstinence
- Supportive
- Early identification of complications from portal
HTN (encephalopathy, thrombocytopenia, etc) - Steroids if DF gt 32
- Pentoxifylline
- If bad enough and has underlying cirrhosis, refer
to transplant center
31Drug-induced liver disease
- Most common cause of fulminant liver failure in
US - Acetaminophen is overwhelming cause of majority
- Antibiotics also a common cause
- Two main types
- Acute hepatitis
- Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, antidepressants
- Cholestatic
- Antibiotics
32DILI
- Treatment
- If LFTs mildly elevated and no symptoms ? observe
- If LFTs high and pt with symptoms ? discontinue
drug, evaluate for complications - Always look for concominant liver disease
- Remember CAM
33Autoimmune disorders
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
34Autoimmune hepatitis
- Inflammatory condition with no known cause
- Risk group
- Females 3-4x that of males
- Ages 20-40
- Other autoimmune disorders (30-50)
- Can be acute/fulminant or chronic
35AIH
- Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Jaundice, anorexia, myalgias, diarrhea
- Exam
- Hepatomegaly, signs of advanced liver disease
- Labs
- AST/ALT usually lt 500 but can be gt 1000
- Elevated ANA (gt180), ASMA, pANCA
- Elevated IgG
36AIH
- Treatment
- Prednisone
- 80 remission at 3 years
- Relapse common
- 50-85 within 6 months
- Azathioprine
- Multiple relapses
- Transplant
- Refracory disease or cirrhosis
- Overall prognosis is excellent if successfully
treated - Think young woman with fatigue for a few
months and abnormal LFTs, h/o thyroid disease
37PBC
- Chronic, progressive, autoimmune disorder of
biliary system - Risks
- Women between 40-60 years old
- Other autoimmune disease
- Symptoms
- Fatigue, pruritis (perineal or palmar/plantar),
jaundice - Asymptomatic in 50
38PBC
- Labs
- Elevated AP/GGT (gt10xULN)
- AMA (gt140)
- Biopsy with aseptic cholangitis
- Treatment
- UDCA
- Improves labs and itching, slows cirrhosis,
delays transplant - Transplant
- Intractable pruritis, cirrhosis
- Think middle age women with itching, abnormal
LFTs
39PSC
- Progressive bile duct destruction
- Risks
- Men (3x)
- 20-30 years old
- Ulcerative colitis (80)
- UC ? PSC lt 5
- Symptoms
- Usually asymptomatic
- Pruritis, jaundice, pain, fatigue
40PSC
- Labs
- AP gt5xULN
- TB slightly elevated
- Diagnosis
- ERCP with strictures and dilations
- Biopsy with periductal (onionskin) fibrosis
41PSC
- Complications
- Metabolic bone disease
- Steatorrhea
- Cholangiocarcinoma (10-30 lifetime risk)
- Increased risk with UC
- Hepatocellular carcinoma with advanced disease
- Treatment
- Transplant
- Think 40 y/o male with UC x 20 years now with
jaundice and pruritis, elevated AP
42PBC vs PSC important differences
Gender Age Labs Dx Rx
PSC M 20-40 Inc AP ERCP UDCA
PBC F 30-50 AMA Biopsy transplant
43Metabolic liver disease
- NAFLD
- Hemochromatosis
- Wilsons disease
44NAFLD
- Broad spectrum disorder
- Simple steatosis (NAFLD) to necroinflammatory
steatosis with cirrhosis (NASH) - Prevalence in US
- NAFLD 15-40
- NASH 1-10
- AND CLIMBING
45NAFLD
- Risks
- Obesity, dyslipidemia, DM2/IFG
- Small bowel resection or bypass
- Medications
- Tamoxifen, corticosteroids, amiodarone
- Symptoms
- Usually none
- RUQ pain, fatigue
46NAFLD
- Labs
- AST and ALT gt 3-5xULN
- ALTgtAST
- Imaging
- US ? hyperechoic liver parenchyma
- CT ? low-density liver parenchyma
- Biopsy
- Indicated for those thought to have advanced
disease - Steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis
47NAFLD
- Treatment
- Weight loss
- Control of DM2, lipids
- Removal of offending agent
- Medication
- TZDs in patients with metabolic syndrome
- Statins
- Think obese pt with metabolic syndrome and
asymptomatic elevated ALT/AST
48Hereditary hemochromatosis
- Autosomal recessive disorder characterized by
increased intestinal iron absorption and
deposition in target tissues - Most common single-gene inherited disorder among
whites - Heterozygote 110
- Homozygote 1200
- Two genes
- C282Y and H63D
49HH
- Presentation
- Age 40-50 (men earlier than women)
- Abnormal LFTs, bronze diabetes
- Fatigue, impotence
- destructive arthropathy
- 2nd and 3rd MCPs
- Screening
- Family history of HH
- Signs of iron overload
50HH
- Labs
- Iron studies
- sat gt 50
- Ferritin gt 1000
- LFTs
- AST/ALT elevated
- Treatment
- Phlebotomy
- Weekly until ferritin lt 50
51HH
- Complications
- Cirrhosis
- 30 of these get HCC
- Cardiac arrhythmia/failure
- DM
- Thyroid disorders
- Arthropathy
- Think 50 y/o male with elevated AST/ALT, high
iron studies, DM2, CHF, arthritis of the 2nd/3rd
MCPs and family history of liver problems (may
also drink alcohol)
52Wilsons disease
- Autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism
(low excretion in bile) - ATP7B gene on chr13
- Affected organs
- Liver, brain, corneas, kidneys
- Nearly 50 of patients present with liver disease
- Asymptomatic elevated AST/ALT, cirrhosis, active
hepatitis, fulminant failure (adolescents)
53Wilsons disease
- Presentation
- Neurologic findings
- Parkinsonian, extrapyramidal
- Mental status changes
- Personality changes, psychosis
- Abnormal AST/ALT
- Hemolytic anemia
- Exam
- Kayser-Fleischer rings
54Wilsons disease
- Labs
- LFTs range
- Mild elevations to fulminant labs
- AP usually can be very low
- Low ceruloplasmin (lt30)
- High 24-hr urinary copper
- Treatment
- Penicillamine
- Transplant
- Think young male recently doing poorly in
school now with mental status changes and
hemolytic anemia
55Complications of Chronic Liver Disease
- Portal hypertension
- Ascites
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
56Portal hypertension
- Leads to bleeding from esophageal varices,
gastric varices, and portal hypertensive
gastropathy - EV most clinically important
- Both mechanical and vascular factors
- Treatment
- EV banding
- Nonselective beta blockers
- TIPS
57Ascites
- Stimulation of RAA system ? renal sodium and
water retention ? increased pressure in hepatic
sinusoids and splanchnic vessels ? third space
fluid - Paracentesis
- SAAG calculation
- gt1.1 cirrhosis, heart failure
- lt1.1 nephrotic syndrome, malignancy, TB
- Treatment
- Diuretics
- TIPS
- LVP
58SBP
- Bacterial infection of ascites without an
intraabominal source - Common cause of decompensation
- Diagnosis PMNs gt 250
- Treatment
- 3rd gen cephalosporin
- fluoroquinolone
59Hepatorenal syndrome
- Development of renal failure in patients with
portal hypertension and normal renal tubular
function - Neurohormonal mediators ? renal vasoconstriction
- Severe liver dysfunction with infection,
overdiuresis/volume depletion, pre-existing CRI - Diagnosis
- Treatment
60Hepatic encephalopathy
- Reversible decrease in level of consciousness in
patients with severe liver disease - Diagnosis
- Evaluation of cause
- GI bleed, infection (SBP), electrolyte disorders,
noncompliance - Treatment
- Lactulose, antibiotics (neomycin, rifaximin)
61Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Occurs almost exclusively in cirrhosis
- Exception HBV
- Risk greater in viral causes of cirrhosis
- Diagnosis
- Cirrhosis with characteristic mass and AFP gt 400
- Treatment
- Transplantation, TACE, sorafenib
- Ablation, resection
- Screening
- Ultrasound every 6-12 months, /- AFP
62Other liver issues
- Fulminant hepatic failure
- Liver transplantation
- Tumors, cysts, abscesses
- HELLP syndrome