Alcoholism 3D module Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Alcoholism 3D module Deck (25)
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1
Q

What is Palmar erythema?

A

Redness of the palms

2
Q

How does palmar erythema arise?

A

Usually due to underlying liver cirrhosis, increased oestrogen levels cause changes in the small anastomoses of the hand increasing vascularity

3
Q

What is Dupuytren’s contracture, and what other conditions can cause it?

A

Benign fibrosis of the flexor tendon of the fingers; also present in diabetes and caused by anti-epileptic medicine

4
Q

What is Caput medusae?

A

Prominent veins around umbilicus, occurs secondary to portal hypertension

5
Q

What is a subdural haematoma?

A

Bleeding in the subdural space

6
Q

Why do thiamine deficiency sufferers experience loss of sensation in the arms and legs?

A

Thiamine is used to maintain the peripheral nerves

7
Q

What happens if the vagus nerve is affected by thiamine deficiency?

A

Cardiac rhythm abnormalities can occur and are a rare cause of death in chronic alcoholics

8
Q

What is the most common cardiomyopathy linked to alcohol?

A

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

9
Q

What is the condition of the heart in dilated cardiomyopathy?

A

Heart is heavier and enlarged, but the thickness of the ventricular walls is normal

10
Q

What does a fatty liver look like?

A

Liver capsule is smooth and shiny, cut surface is clearly discoloured and greasy, fatty inclusions in hepatocytes

11
Q

What is the condition of the liver in Liver cirrhosis?

A

Enlarged with clearly irregular capsular surface, nodules of various sizes present throughout, hepatocytes are encircled by dense bands of fibrosis

12
Q

What is the issue with the bands of fibrosis present in liver cirrhosis?

A

They prevent proteins synthesised by the hepatocytes from being able to leave and stop toxic substances from being able to reach the hepatocytes to be metabolised

13
Q

How does portal hypertension arise?

A

Scarred liver tissue leads to increased vascular pressure throughout the liver

14
Q

How does splenomegaly, oesophageal varices and spider naevi occur?

A

In cirrhosis the large volume of blood is redirected to smaller veins elsewhere and to superficial vasculature

15
Q

How does alcohol cause hypoglycaemia?

A

It prevents gluconeogenesis

16
Q

Where does aspiration pneumonia most often occur?

A

In the superior part of the right lower lobe

17
Q

What happens in Barrett’s oesophagus?

A

Normal squamous epithelium undergoes metaplastic change to intestinal epithelium due to acid reflux

18
Q

What are Oesophageal varices?

A

Numerous large dilated blood vessels close to surface (susceptible to bleeding)

19
Q

What occurs in acute pancreatitis?

A

Haemorrhage, fat necrosis

20
Q

How do pseudo-cysts arise?

A

Result from tissue necrosis and degeneration

21
Q

Why are pseudo-cysts not true cysts?

A

They lack an epithelial lining

22
Q

What are some symptoms of acute pancreatitis?

A

Umbilical region pain, feeling/being sick, diarrhoea, indigestion, fever, jaundice, tenderness/swelling of abdomen, tachycardia

23
Q

What are symptoms of chronic pancreatitis?

A

Repeated episodes of pain on middle/left side, pain can move along back, pain may come on after a meal, nausea/vomiting, steatorrhoea, weight loss, anorexia, jaundice

24
Q

How is aspiration pneumonia caused commonly?

A

Due to sterile and acidic gastric contents reaching the lung parenchyma

25
Q

What is pneumonitis?

A

Inflammation without infection