Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a key characteristic of alcoholic fatty liver disease?
What is a key characteristic of alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Which stage of alcohol-related liver disease is characterized by irreversible scarring?
Which stage of alcohol-related liver disease is characterized by irreversible scarring?
Which symptom is commonly associated with cirrhosis?
Which symptom is commonly associated with cirrhosis?
What lifestyle change is recommended to manage cirrhosis?
What lifestyle change is recommended to manage cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
What is a common cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Signup and view all the answers
Which symptom is NOT typically associated with cirrhosis?
Which symptom is NOT typically associated with cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which treatment is commonly recommended for managing complications of cirrhosis?
Which treatment is commonly recommended for managing complications of cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What symptom might indicate liver failure?
What symptom might indicate liver failure?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Which of the following is NOT a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Signup and view all the answers
What condition can accumulate due to chronic liver disease, potentially leading to complications?
What condition can accumulate due to chronic liver disease, potentially leading to complications?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is not a function of the liver?
Which of the following is not a function of the liver?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common cause of liver damage?
What is a common cause of liver damage?
Signup and view all the answers
How much of the liver can regenerate from damaged tissue?
How much of the liver can regenerate from damaged tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following symptoms is typically associated with liver disease?
Which of the following symptoms is typically associated with liver disease?
Signup and view all the answers
What substance is primarily produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion?
What substance is primarily produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion?
Signup and view all the answers
Which condition is NOT a cause of liver damage?
Which condition is NOT a cause of liver damage?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of thrombopoietin produced by the liver?
What is the role of thrombopoietin produced by the liver?
Signup and view all the answers
Which vitamin is NOT stored by the liver?
Which vitamin is NOT stored by the liver?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the liver contribute to the regulation of glucose levels?
How does the liver contribute to the regulation of glucose levels?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following substances can the liver break down?
Which of the following substances can the liver break down?
Signup and view all the answers
What autoimmune condition involves the immune system mistakenly attacking bile ducts?
What autoimmune condition involves the immune system mistakenly attacking bile ducts?
Signup and view all the answers
Which symptom is NOT associated with primary biliary cirrhosis?
Which symptom is NOT associated with primary biliary cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential consequence of untreated primary biliary cirrhosis?
What is a potential consequence of untreated primary biliary cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of liver cancer is the most common?
Which type of liver cancer is the most common?
Signup and view all the answers
What condition is characterized by iron overload and can lead to liver damage?
What condition is characterized by iron overload and can lead to liver damage?
Signup and view all the answers
Which treatment is used for managing haemachromotosis?
Which treatment is used for managing haemachromotosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of liver cancer arises from metastasis of cancer from another organ?
Which type of liver cancer arises from metastasis of cancer from another organ?
Signup and view all the answers
What can cause liver cysts according to congenital factors?
What can cause liver cysts according to congenital factors?
Signup and view all the answers
Which medication is prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as itching in primary biliary cirrhosis?
Which medication is prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as itching in primary biliary cirrhosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What complication is associated with haemachromotosis?
What complication is associated with haemachromotosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Liver Disease Overview
- Liver is the largest internal organ, located below the diaphragm in the right upper quadrant.
- It's the largest gland, secreting bile stored in the gallbladder.
- The liver can regenerate, even from as little as 25% of its original tissue.
GDC Learning Outcomes
- Explain the relevance of general and systemic diseases to oral health.
- Describe relevant physiology and its application to patient management.
- Discuss the properties of relevant medicines and therapeutic agents related to patient management.
Aim
- Outline liver diseases and their relevance to dental hygienists/therapists.
Learning Outcomes
- List liver functions.
- Describe a diseased liver and its symptoms.
- Identify the relevance of liver disease to dental hygienists/therapists.
- Detail how a dental treatment plan might need modification due to liver disease.
Liver Functions
- Filters and cleans blood.
- Makes and breaks down sugars, proteins, and fats.
- Stores vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12.
- Produces bile for fat digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
- Stores minerals like iron and copper.
- Removes metabolic products and toxins from the blood.
- Fights infections and eliminates waste material (bacteria, fungi, parasites, cellular debris).
- Converts glucose to glycogen for storage.
- Regulates glucose and cholesterol levels.
- Produces essential proteins (blood clotting factors, albumin, hormones, transporter proteins, complement).
- Produces thrombopoietin to stimulate platelet production.
- Breaks down hemoglobin, cholesterol, proteins, sex steroids and many drugs (alcohol, analgesics, antimicrobials).
Liver Damage Causes
- Alcohol
- Viral infections (Hepatitis A-E)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Autoimmune conditions (primary biliary cirrhosis)
- Tumors and cysts
- Haemochromatosis
Alcohol Related Liver Disease
- Liver filters alcohol to remove it from the body.
- Each filtering process causes some liver cells to die.
- The liver needs breaks to regenerate and create new cells.
- Excessive alcohol consumption prevents liver recovery, leading to serious and potentially permanent damage.
- Three stages of alcohol-related liver disease include fatty liver disease (usually reversible), alcoholic hepatitis (reversible with abstinence in early stages), and cirrhosis (irreversible scarring of the liver).
Symptoms of Cirrhosis
- Often no symptoms until liver damage is severe.
- Tiredness, weakness.
- Nausea, loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Palmar erythema (reddening of palms).
- Spider naevi (small dilated blood vessels).
- Finger clubbing.
- Sialosis (swelling of the salivary glands).
- Jaundice (yellowing skin and eyes)
- Itchy skin.
- Dark urine, tarry stools.
- Bleeding or bruising easily.
- Loss of libido.
- Swollen legs or abdomen (ascites).
- Gynecomastia, testicular atrophy.
- Esophageal varices.
- Encephalopathy (confusion).
- Liver cancer.
Treatment of Cirrhosis
- Lifestyle changes (stop drinking alcohol, healthy diet, low protein and low salt diet).
- Lose weight.
- Stop smoking.
- Medications like diuretics or beta-blockers to manage symptoms.
- Liver transplant.
- The treatment focuses on managing the symptoms of the disease and preventing further complications, rather than a cure.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- Fat buildup in the liver, not caused by alcohol.
- Often associated with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
- Stages progress from fatty liver, to liver inflammation (reversible if lifestyle changes happen), fibrosis, and cirrhosis (irreversible).
- NAFLD symptoms include abdominal pain, tiredness, weight loss, and, if progressed to cirrhosis, symptoms of cirrhosis (see above).
Treatment for NAFLD
- Lifestyle modifications (healthy diet, exercise, weight management), and abstinence from excessive alcohol.
- Controlling associated conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol).
- Liver transplant in severe cases, when cirrhosis develops.
Other Causes of Liver Damage
-
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis:
- Immune system attacks bile ducts.
- Bile builds up, leading to cirrhosis.
- Symptoms: bone and joint pain, fatigue, itching, dry eyes/mouth, abdominal pain.
- Treatment: Ursodeoxycholic Acid, other meds for itching.
-
Tumors and Cysts:
- Primary liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma): Most common type; more common if pre-existing cirrhosis.
- Secondary liver cancer: Metastatic cancer spread from other organs (e.g., breast, bowel).
- Liver cysts: Congenital or due to infection, caused mainly by a parasitic worm (echinococcus).
-
Haemochromatosis:
- Inherited condition, iron overload.
- Damages liver, joints, pancreas, heart.
- More susceptible to liver cancer.
- Treatment: Bloodletting (phlebotomy) and chelating agents.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz provides an overview of liver diseases and their relevance to dental hygienists and therapists. Participants will learn about liver functions, symptoms of liver disease, and necessary modifications in dental treatment plans for affected patients. Understanding these components is crucial for effective patient management in oral health.
