T/F liver failure can result in hypoglycaemia due to limited / absent – (i) glycogen storage and (ii) gluconeogenesis
T/F liver disease can result in coagulopathy, because the liver produces all of the clotting factors
T/F Kupffer cells are macrophages which line the hepatic sinusoids – with severe liver disease these may be absent, placing the patient at risk of sepsis from GIT flora
T/F biliverdin (from haem breakdown) undergoes active transport into hepatocytes where it is metabolised to bilirubin – this is why liver disease can produce jaundice
T/F one cause of hepatic encephalopathy is high ammonia levels – this results from impaired conversion of nitrogenous compounds (derived from protein), to urea. Lactulose is used in patients with encephalopathy because it decreases intestinal ammonia production.
T/F portal hypertension leads to intestinal wall oedema, which reduces the absorptive capacity of the GIT
T/F (not in the primary exam) gynaecomastia occurs in men with chronic liver disease because the free oestrogen : testosterone ratio is altered by a reduction in sex-hormone binding globulin
References
1. Miller 8th edition, Chapter 22
2. Kam and Power 3rd edition, Chapter 6