Transcript Case 1
An Approach to Abnormal LFTs
Robert C. Lowe, M.D.
Boston Medical Center
July 17, 2013
Chessboard
GGT
ALB
ALP
T. BIL
AST
ALT
Case 1
30 year old woman
4 days of malaise, fevers to 101, nausea
1 day of RUQ pain and jaundice
Exam - T 100.5
Icteric sclerae and jaundice
Tender hepatomegaly, no spleen tip
Case 1
AST 1535
ALT 1602
ALP 128
T. Bil 7.3
Albumin 3.9
WBC 8.1
HCT 41
PLT 353
Transaminases
AST - aspartate aminotransferase
ALT - alanine aminotransferase
Released when hepatocytes are injured a sign of necrosis.
AST - less specific for liver disease
Muscle (skeletal and cardiac)
Kidney
Erythrocytes
ALT - very little outside of liver. A better
marker of liver disease.
Differential Diagnosis
Sky high transaminases > 15x normal
Differential Diagnosis
Sky high transaminases > 15x normal
Virus
Drug
Ischemia
}
>80% of cases
AST/ALT>1000
Virus
Toxin
Ischemia
History and Exam Points
AST/ALT>1000
History and Exam Points
Virus
IVDU
Sexual partners
Travel
Food exposures
Toxin
Ischemia
Arthralgias
Urticaria
Herpetic lesions
Stigmata of liver dz
AST/ALT>1000
History and Exam Points
Virus
IVDU
Sexual partners
Travel
Food exposures
Toxin
Ischemia
Arthralgias
Urticaria
Herpetic lesions
Stigmata of liver dz
AST/ALT>1000
History and Exam Points
Virus
IVDU
Sexual partners
Travel
Food exposures
Toxin
Arthralgias
Urticaria
Herpetic lesions
Stigmata of liver dz
Ischemia
Meds
OTC meds
Herbs and supplements
AST/ALT>1000
History and Exam Points
Virus
IVDU
Sexual partners
Travel
Food exposures
Toxin
Arthralgias
Urticaria
Herpetic lesions
Stigmata of liver dz
Ischemia
Meds
OTC meds
Herbs and supplements
Recent surgery
Hypotension
Cardiac arrest
CMP
AST/ALT>1000
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
Clinical Clues
Female gender
Personal or Family Hx of autoimmune dz
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson’s Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
Clinical Clues
Female gender
Personal or Family Hx of autoimmune dz
ANA
ASMA
Ig levels
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson’s
Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson’s
Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
Clinical Clues
Male gender
< age 40
Neuropsychiatric syndrome
Psychosis
Movement disorder
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson’s
Disease
Clinical Clues
Male gender
< age 40
Neuropsychiatric syndrome
Psychosis
Movement disorder
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
Low ALP
Hemolysis
Ceruloplasmin less useful in acute
disease
KF Rings
Head CT
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
AST/ALT>1000
Clinical Clues
Autoimmune
H/O biliary colic or GS disease
FH of gallstones
Wilson Disease
RUQ pain
N/V
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Transaminases fall rapidly - over 1-3 days
Budd-Chiari
U/S often diagnostic, but may need further
imaging with MRCP/ERCP
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Wilson Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
AST/ALT>1000
Clinical Clues
Autoimmune
Wilson Disease
OCP use
Prior venous thrombosis
Myeloproliferative disorder
Malignancy
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Abdominal Pain
Ascites
Budd-Chiari
Laboratory Testing
•
•
•
•
•
Hepatitis A - IgM and IgG
Hepatitis B - sAg, cAb, eAg, HBV DNA
Hepatitis C - RNA level
ANA, ASMA, Ig levels
RUQ U/S with Doppler Study
• Consider other viral serologies,
ceruloplasmin, MRCP
Prognostic Features
Prognostic Features
• Coagulopathy
– INR elevation
• Encephalopathy
– Mental Status
– Asterixis
– Apraxia
Case 2
•
•
•
•
•
Asymptomatic 45 year-old woman
Cholesterol 245, Trig 266
No significant FH
No meds
Works as an accountant
Case 2
AST 84
ALT 46
ALP 121
T. Bil 0.8
ALB 3.7
WBC 6.6
HCT 37
PLT 165
Alcoholic LFT Pattern
• AST/ALT > 2:1
• Absolute AST and ALT < 300
• GGT elevation is helpful, but
nonspecific.
Alcoholic LFT Pattern
WHY?
ALT synthesis is decreased in EtOH
hepatitis.
Partially due to pyridoxine deficiency may correct with B6 therapy.
Case 2
AST 84
ALT 46
ALP 121
T. Bil 0.8
ALB 3.7
WBC 6.6
HCT 37
PLT 165
Case 2
AST 84
ALT 89
ALP 121
T. Bil 0.8
ALB 3.7
WBC 6.6
HCT 37
PLT 165
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
B Hepatitis
C Hepatitis
Drug
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Fatty liver
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
B Hepatitis
C Hepatitis
Drug
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Fatty liver
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Thyroid disease, myopathies
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
Alcohol Hx
B Hepatitis
HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb
C Hepatitis
HCV Ab
Drug
Drug Hx
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Fatty liver
RUQ U/S, TG
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Thyroid disease, myopathies
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
ANA, ASMA, Ig levels
B Hepatitis
HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb
C Hepatitis
HCV Ab
Drug
Drug Hx
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Fatty liver
RUQ U/S, TG
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Fe, TIBC, Ferritin
Thyroid disease, myopathies
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
ANA, ASMA, Ig levels
B Hepatitis
HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb
C Hepatitis
HCV Ab
Drug
Drug Hx
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Ceruloplasmin
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
A-1-AT level
Fatty liver
RUQ U/S, TG
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Fe, TIBC, Ferritin
Thyroid disease, myopathies
Mildly Elevated Transaminases
Alcohol / Autoimmune
ANA, ASMA, Ig levels
B Hepatitis
HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb
C Hepatitis
HCV Ab
Drug
Drug Hx
Exotic
Wilson Disease
Ceruloplasmin
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
A-1-AT level
Fatty liver
RUQ U/S, TG
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Anti-TTG
Hemochromatosis
Fe, TIBC, Ferritin
Thyroid disease, myopathies
TSH, CK, Aldolase
Liver Biopsy
1124 pts referred for elevated ALT --81 cases with negative serologic workup
Liver Biopsy
1124 pts referred for elevated ALT --81 cases with negative serologic workup
Biopsies -- 41 pts with steatosis
26 pts with NASH
8% normal biopsies
Daniel, et al. Am J Gastro, 1999
Liver Biopsy
354 patients with elevated ALT and negative workup
Biopsies -- 32% with steatosis
34% with NASH
9% cryptogenic
7.6% Drug-induced
5.9% normal histology
2.8% ETOH
66% with NAFLD
Granulomatous dz, PBC, PSC, hemochromatosis,
amyloidosis, glycogen storage disease = 6.3%
In 18%, management was changed based on the pathology.
Skelly, et al. J Hepatol, 2001
PAS with Diastase digestion
An Approach to Abnormal LFTs
Robert C. Lowe, M.D.
Boston Medical Center
July 17, 2013
An Approach to Abnormal LFTs
Part 2
Robert C. Lowe, M.D.
Boston Medical Center
July 25, 2013
AST/ALT>1000
Virus
Toxin
Ischemia
AST/ALT>1000
Autoimmune
Virus
Toxin
Ischemia
Wilson’s Disease
Bile Duct
Obstruction
Budd-Chiari
Alcohol / Autoimmune
B Hepatitis
C Hepatitis
Drug
Exotic
Wilson’s Disease
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Fatty liver
Gluten sensitive enteropathy
Hemochromatosis
Thyroid disease, myopathies
Case 3
35 year old woman
Mild fatigue
No significant PMH
No meds
Exam - cervical LAN 0.5 cm, nontender
Liver 3 cm below RCM
Case 3
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Case 3
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
GGT = 650
Alkaline Phosphatase
Produced in liver, bone, placenta,
intestine.
Blood group O and B may release
intestinal ALP after a fatty meal.
Elevations up to 2x normal are very
nonspecific. Up to 1/3 have no disease.
Elevated ALP
Bone disease -- Paget’s
Metastases
Myeloma
Use GGT or 5’NT to distinguish bone from
liver.
GGT and 5’ NT
GGT - not found in bone, present in biliary
epithelium.
Problems - induced by EtOH,
anticonvulsants, warfarin, so specificity
is a problem.
GGT/ALP > 2.5 suggests EtOH, but only
33% sensitive!
5’ Nucleotidase
More specific than GGT
Rises over several days after bile duct
obstruction, slower than GGT.
Elevated ALP
Elevated ALP
Biliary obstruction
Tumor masses - primary or metastatic
Drug Effect
Elevated ALP
Special circumstances -
Malignancy without liver involvement -tumors produce Regan isoenzyme of
ALP (gonadal and urologic)
Hodgkin’s Disease and RCC - can cause
nonspecific hepatitis with elevated ALP
Workup of ALP Elevation
1) Confirm liver origin with 5’-NT or GGT
Workup of ALP Elevation
1) Confirm liver origin with 5’-NT or GGT
2) U/S or CT to R/O mass and dilated
ducts
Mass -- biopsy
Dilated ducts -- MRCP/ERCP
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Pruritus for 4 months with no rash
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Pruritus for 4 months with no rash
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
AMA = 1:2500
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
•
•
•
•
•
•
F:M = 8-9:1
Classic = fatigue, itching, elevated ALP
Common = asyx elevated ALP
NO jaundice until end-stage
AMA is diagnostic (95% positive)
Treat with ursodiol
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Patient reveals a 12 year history of
ulcerative colitis
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
•
•
•
•
IBD in > 70% (typically UC)
MRCP makes diagnosis
pANCA (+) in the majority
Progression to cirrhosis – median
survival 10-12 yrs after Dx
• Risk of cholangiocarcioma is 10-15%
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Patient with Cr. 2.0 and
significant proteinuria
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
Liver biopsy
Liver biopsy
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
41 M with advanced HIV – CD4 27
AST 42
ALT 34
ALP 442
T. BIL 0.7
Albumin 3.9
INR 1.0
HIV Cholangiopathy
•
•
•
•
Seen in advanced AIDS – CD4 <50
High ALP, mildly elevated bilirubin
Significant RUQ pain
Survival is 6-9 months – due to other
infections, wasting…
Case 3
35 year old woman
Mild fatigue
No significant PMH
No meds
Exam - cervical LAN 0.5 cm, nontender
Liver 3 cm below RCM
Elevated ALP
Biliary obstruction
Tumor masses - primary or metastatic
Drug Effect
Elevated ALP
Biliary obstruction
Tumor masses - primary or metastatic
Drug Effect
PBC, PSC
Infiltrative disease - amyloid
Granulomatous diseases – sarcoid, TB, fungi
Autoimmune variants
Workup of ALP Elevation
1) Confirm liver origin with 5’-NT or GGT
2) Take a thorough drug history
3) U/S or CT to R/O mass and dilated
ducts
Mass -- biopsy
Dilated ducts -- MRCP/ERCP
4) Neither -- check AMA, then biopsy liver.
Final Case
AST 175
ALT 112
ALP 163
T. Bili 12.3
INR 1.9
ALB 3.0
An Approach to Abnormal LFTs
Part 2
Robert C. Lowe, M.D.
Boston Medical Center
July 25, 2013