Question 1

I am a third-year student nurse and am currently researching a case study based on the biopsychosocial history of a patient who suffers from chronic hepatitis C, which initially occurred as a result of injecting drugs. I am confused about the biological effect of hepatitis: how exactly does it affect the liver?

Question 2

What is the best single test of liver function to exclude liver cell failure in

the routine work-up of a patient with early dementia?

Question 3

How valuable is the measurement of the liver span in a physical

examination?

Question 4

Why has the term 'chronic liver disease' replaced terms such as 'chronic

hepatitis'? What exactly does this new term mean and what conditions

does it cover?

Question 5

Can jaundice occur early in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and, if so, how?

Question 6

My patient has been found to have a serum bilirubin of 34 mol/L

(2 mg/dL) on three occasions. The other liver tests are normal. He tells

me he has Gilbert's disease; how can I prove this?

Question 7

Why is urinary urobilinogen increased in haemolytic jaundice? If the

bilirubin in this condition is unconjugated, how does it reach the terminal

ileum to be converted into urobilinogen?

Question 8

How does cholestatic jaundice affect the kidney?

Question 9

What is the mechanism by which cholestatic jaundice causes

bradycardia?

Question 10

Are 'jaundice' and 'icterus' one and the same? I was taught that icterus

is yellowing of the sclera, while jaundice is yellowing of the skin and the

mucous membranes. As a result, carotenaemia can produce jaundice but

not icterus: is this so? I would be grateful if you would clarify this for me.