Chapter 17: Small Intestine and Colon Flashcards
Acquired hernias most typically occur anteriorly via which sites?
- Femoral and Inguinal canals
- Umbilicus
- Surgical scars
Which type of hernia is most often associated with obstruction and why?
- Inguinal hernias
- Narrow orifices and large sacs
What is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in the US?
Adhesions
What do adhesions between bowel segments create and what does this lead to?
Create closed loop segments, trapping other parts of small bowel —> internal hernias
Although rare, where does Volvulus of the bowels most often occur?
Sigmoid colon > cecum > small bowel > stomach
What is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children <2 yo?
If left untreated may progress to what?
- Intussusception
- Untreated = intestinal obst. –> compress mesenteric vessels –> infarction
Although typically idiopathic, some cases of intussusception have been associated with what?
- Viral infections
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Intraluminal mass or tumor (adults)
What is used both diagnostically and therapeutically for intussusception in infants and young children?
Contrast enemas
What should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal colitis of the splenic flexure or rectosigmoid colon?
Why?
- Ischemic disease
- These areas are watershed zonesi
What are the 2 phases of intestinal response to ischemia?
Which phase does the greatest amt. of damage occur in?
1) Hypoxic injury: onset of vascular compromise; not much damage occurs in this phase; epithelial cells of gut resistant to injury
2) Reperfusion injury: time when the greatest amt. of damage occurs and in severe cases may trigger multiorgan failure
Where are the watershed zones of the intestines and blood supply ending at each?
- Splenic flexure: SMA and IMA terminate
- Sigmoid and Colon: IMA, pudendal, and iliac as. end
How does the route of intestinal capillaries running along glands from crypt to surface epithelium play a role in the pattern of atrophy and necrosis seen with ischemic intestinal disease?
- Surface epithelium is particularly vulnerable
- Morphological signature = surface epithelial atrophy or necrosis and sloughing w/ normal or hyperproliferative crypts
What are the gross morphological characteristics of GI ischemia especially with transmural infarction?
How does it look after initial insult and then later on?
- Demarcation b/w normal and ischemic bowel is sharply defined
- Initially congested and dusky to purple-red
- Later –> bowel wall thickened and rubbery by edema
Within 1-4 days following GI ischemia what type of necrosis is seen and of which layer?
Coagulative necrosis of muscularis propria
In both acute and chronic ischemia of the GI, what does bacterial superinfection and entero toxin release induce?
Resembles?
- Induce pseudomembrane formation
- Resembles C. difficle-associated pseudomembranous colitis
Ischemic disease of the colon is most common in what age group?
Age 70+
Acute colonic ischemia typically presents clinically how?
- Sudden onset of cramping
- LLQ pain
- Desire to defecate
- Passage of blood or blood diarrhea
Mortality from acute colonic ischemia is doubled in patients with what type of presentation?
Why?
- Right-sided colonic disease
- Since right side of colon is supplied by SMA, which also supplies much of the small intestine
Other than right-sided involvment in acute colonic ischemia what are other poor prognostic indicators?
- Co-existing COPD
- Persistence of sx’s for >2 weeks
Intermittent blood diarrhea + intestinal obstruction are most often seen in what type of GI infarction?
Mucosal and mural infarctions
Which virus may cause ischemic GI disease due to viral tropism for endothelial cells?
CMV
Beyond clinical hx, histologically speaking, the presence of what may provide an important clue to the etiology of radiation enterocolitis?
Presence of highly atypical “radiation fibroblasts” within stroma
What are the sx’s of acute radiation enteritis?
- Anorexia
- Abdominal cramps
- Malabsorptive diarrhea
What is the most common acquired GI emergency of neonates, particularly premature or low-birth weight infants?
When does it typically manifest?
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) –> transmural necrosis
- Presents when oral feeding is initiated
Lesions characterized by malformed submucosal and mucosal blood vessels, occurring most often in the cecum or right colon, during the sixth decade of life is known as?
Angiodysplasia
Angiodysplasia is a significant cause of what?
Major episodes of lower intestinal bleeding
Which 4 diseases are associated with a defect in intraluminal digestion?
1) Chronic pancreatitis
2) Cystic Fibrosis
3) Primary bile acid malabsorption
4) IBD
Painful, bloody, small-volume diarrhea is known as?
Dysentery
Differentiate the 4 categories of diarrhea: Secretory diarrhea, Osmotic diarrhea, Malabsorptive diarrhea, and Exudative diarrhea.
Which persist and are relieved by fasting?
1) Secretory: isotonic stool and persists during fasting
2) Osmotic: like which occurs w/ lactase deficiency; excess osmotic forces due to unabsorbed luminal solutes; relieved w/ fasting
3) Malabsorptive: follows gen. failure of nutrient absorption; assoc. w/ steatorrhea and is relieved by fasting
4) Exudative: due to inflammatory disease; characterized by purulent, blood stools that continue during fasting
What type of diarrhea is associated with CF?
Malabsorptive due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Explain the pathogenesis of Celiac Disease starting with the undigested α-gliadin peptide until deposit of gliadin in the damaged epithelium.
- Gliadn induces epithlial cell expression of IL-15 –> triggers activation/proliferation of CD8+ lymphocytes
- CD8+ cells express NKG2D (receptor for MIC-A)
- Stressed enterocytesexpressMIC-Aand are attacked byCD8+ cells
- Gliadin deposits in damaged epithelium and are deaminated by tissue transglutaminase (tTG)
Deamidated gliadin peptides in the damaged epithelium interact with what on APC’s?
Leads to?
- Interact w/ HLA-DQ2 or DQ-8 on APC’s
- Stimulates CD4+ T cells to produce cytokines which contribute to tissue damage
What is the histopathology of celiac disease characterized by?
Which cells are seen in increased numbers?
- Increased CD8+ T cells (intraepithelial lymphocytosis)
- Crypt hyperplasia –> high rate of epithelial turnover –> lack of differentiation
- Villous atrophy
- Increased # of plasma cells, eosinophils, and mast cells
What is a sensitive marker for Celiac Disease even in the absence of villous atrophy and epithelial damage?
What combo is most specific for diagnosis?
- Increased # of intraepithelial lymphocytes, particularly within villus
- Combo of histology + serology is most specific for diagnosis
Between what ages does Celiac Disease most commonly present?
30-60 yo
Many cases of Celiac Disease are often asymptomatic and clinical symptoms don’t become evident until the development of what?
Anemia due to chronic iron and vitamin malabsorption
Which sex is Celiac disease detected 2x as frequently in and what may be a contributing factor?
- Females
- Monthly menstrual bleeding –> accentuating the effect of impaired absorption
Which characteristic rash is seen in some patients with Celiac Disease?
Cause?
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis –> itchy, blistering skin lesion
- IgA deposition @ tips of dermal papillae –> herpes-like blister
What are the 2 most sensitive serologic tests for Celiac disease?
- IgA anti-tTG Abs
- IgA anti-endomysial Abs
Which malignancies are most common in patients w/ Celiacs Disease?
- Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (most common)
- Small intestinal adenocarcinoma
When a patient with Celiac disease is following a gluten-free diet but is still experiencing symptoms of weight-loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, what differential diagnoses must be considered?
- Cancer
- Refractory sprue
What is Enviornmental Enteropathy also known as?
Where is it most commonly seen?
- Tropical sprue
- Populations w/ poor sanitation and hygiene: sub-Saharan Africa, aboriginal populations, some groups of S. America and Asia, India, and Pakistan
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of pts with Tropical Sprue?
- Malabsorption/malnutrition
- Stunted growth
- Defective intestinal mucosal immune function
The cause of Tropical Sprue isn’t known, but what are some of the likely involved factors?
- Defective intestinal barrier function
- Chronic exposure to fecal pathogens
- Repeat bouts of diarrhea within the first 2 or 3 years of life
What is the inheritance pattern of Autoimmune Enteropathy?
X-linked
Autoimmune enteropathy is chararcterized by what (sx’s) and occurs at what age?
- Severe persistent diarrhea and autoimmune disease
- Occurs most often in children
A particularly severe familial form of Autoimmune Enteropathy is known as?
What is the underlying genetic defect?
- IPEX - immune dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy, Enteropthy, and X-linkage
- Germline mutation of FOXP3 gene expressed by CD4+ Treg cells
Autoantibodies to what are often seen in Autoimmune Enteropathy?
- Auto-abs to enterocytes/goblet cells
- Auto-abs to parietal cells/islet cells
What is the treatment for Autoimmune Enteropathy?
- Immunosuppressive drugs: Cyclosporine
- Rare cases: HSC transplant
What is the inheritance pattern of congenital lactase deficiency?
Autosomal Recessive
What are the sx’s of congenital lactase deficiency?
- Osmotic diarrhea: explosive w/ watery, frothy stools
- Abdominal distention
- All upon milk ingestion
What is the cause of acquired lactase deficiency?
Particularly common in what populations?
Can develop after what?
- Down-regulation of lactase gene expression
- Common in Native Americans, Blacks, and Chinese
- Can develop following enteric viral or bacterial infections
What is the inheritance pattern of Abetalipoproteinemia?
Autosomal Recessive
Which mutation is seen in Abetalipoproteinemia?
Mutation in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP)
What is the defect caused by the mutation in Abetalipoproteinemia?
- Without MTP, enterocytes cannot assemble or export lipoproteins, especially ApoB
- Results in intracellular accumulation of lipids
What is seen histologically in Abetalipoproteinemia?
Stained how?
- Vacuolization of small intestinal epithelial cells
- Stains such as oil red-O, particularly after fatty meal
When is the onset of Abetalipoproteinemia and what are the signs/symptoms?
What is seen serologically?
- Presents in infancy
- Failure to thrive, diarrhea, and steatorrhea
- Complete absence of plasma ApoB (serology)
- Failure to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK)
Failure to absorb essential FA’s in Abetalipoproteinemia leads to deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins as well as lipid membrane defects that can be recognized by the presence of what in peripheral blood smears?
Acanthocytic red cells (Burr cells)
What age is the peak prevalance of IBS seen?
Which sex most affected?
- Peak prevalence 20-40 yo
- Females
Once enteric infection or IBD is excluded, what are the current criteria used for diagnosis IBS
- Abdominal pain at least 3 days/month over 3 months
- Improvement of sx’s w/ defecation
- Change in stool frequency or form
What has been identified as one cause of diarrhea-predominant IBS?
Excess bile acid synthesis or bile acid malabsorption
How does the location and morphological expression of Ulcerative Colitis differ from that of Chron Disease?
- Ulcerative colitis: limited to colon and rectum; extends only into the mucosa and submucosa
- Chron disease: may involve any area of GI (Ileum ± colon) and typically transmural
When does IBD (Chron and UC) typically present?
More prevalent in which population?
- Teens and early 20’s
- Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews (3-5x)
Mutation of which gene is most strongly associated with Chron disease?
What are some of the other implicated genes?
- NOD2 - encodes proteins that bind bacteria peptidoglycan and activate NF-kB path
- ATG16L1 = part of autophagy path
- IRGM = part of autophagy path
*All involved in recognition and response to intracellular pathogens
Which T helper cell response is polarized in Chron Disease?
TH1
AR mutations in which cytokine and receptor genes are linked to severe, early onset IBD?
IL-10 and the IL-10 receptor
Which epithelial defect is associated with Chron Disease?
Defects in intestinal epithelial TIGHT JUNCTION barrier
Which polymorphisms associated with epithelial barrier defects have been implicated in ulcerative colitis?
- ECM1 protein polymorphism —> typically inhibits MM9
- HNFA transcription factor polymorphisms
What type of lesions are characteristic of Chron Disease and can help differentiate it from UC?
Skip lesions –> multiple, separate, sharply delineated areas of dz
Which inflammatory infiltrate is abundant in Chron Disease, where does it infiltrate, and causes?
- Neutrophils
- Infiltrate and damage crypts –> Crypt abscesses
What is one of the morphologic hallmarks of Chron Disease?
Non-caseating granlomas of the intestinal wall
What are some of the characteristic clinical signs and symptoms of Chron Disease?
- Intermittent attacks of mild diarrhea, fever, abd. pain
- RLQ pain, fever, bloody diarrhea –> mimicing acute appedicitis/ perf. bowel
- Periods of active disease + asymptomatic periods
- Iron-deficiency anemia, Hypoalbuminemia, and Malabsorption (B12 and Bile salts)