Gastric, Intestinal, and Pancreatic Function (PART 3)

Question 1

Most common cause of chronic pancreatitis

Answer 1

Alcoholism

Question 2

Two indirect tests used to diagnose this condition

Answer 2

Measure fecal chymotrypsin and fecal elastase-1

Question 3

Specific diagnostic usefulness of the measurement of elastase-1

Answer 3

Secreted in any inflammatory state; sensitive and specific marker of chronic pancreatitis

Question 4

Specific diagnostic usefulness of the measurement of trypsin

Answer 4

Highly sensitive indicator of pancreatic disease; recommended as screening test for CF in 5-day-old infants

Question 5

conditions which may lead to the malabsorption syndrome

Answer 5

*Pancreatic insufficiency
- celiac disease
- resection of ilium
- parasitic infection of the gut
(others on slide 159)

Question 6

Why do patients with malabsorption syndrome have steatorrhea, weight loss, vit deficiencies, anemia, edema, coag disorders and osteomalcia

Answer 6

Deficiencies of fat and water soluble vitamins

Question 7

Four tests used to evaluate the malabsorption syndrome

Answer 7

1. Carotene
2. Microscopic examination of stool for fat
3. D-xylose absorption test
4. Breath hydrogen test

Question 8

Principle and specific area of the GI tract assessed via the D-xylose absorption test

Answer 8

Assesses the functional integrity of the small intestine

Question 9

List the specific diagnostic usefulness of the breath hydrogen test

Answer 9

Assesses whether malabsoption is caused by bacterial overgrowth or a lactase deficiency

Question 10

Describe the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome

Answer 10

Occurrence of tumors involving two or more endocrine glands within a single patient
- Two types: MEN 1 (Wermer’s Syndrome); MEN 2 (Sipple’s Syndrome)