Gastro Flashcards
Pathophysiology of coeliac disease:
Coeliac disease is a T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting the small bowel in which sensitivity to prolamin results in villous atrophy and malabsorption.
What allele is associated with coeliac disease?
Associations include positive family history, HLA-DQ2 allele, and other autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes mellitus).
What allele is associated with coeliac disease?
Associations include positive family history, HLA-DQ2 allele, and other autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes mellitus).
Rash associated with coeliac disease:
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Presents with pruritic papulovesicular lesions over the buttocks and extensor surfaces of the arms, legs, and trunk).
Investigation of coeliacs:
TTG then refer for OGD jejunal biopsy for gold standard.
Summary of blood tests for coeliacs:
- FBC (this may show microcytic anaemia due to iron deficiency, normocytic anaemia due to chronic inflammation, or macrocytic anaemia due to folate deficiency)
- U&E and bone profile (vitamin D absorption may be impaired)
- LFT (albumin may be low secondary to malabsorption)
- Iron, B12, Folate
Important complications of coeliac disease:
Anaemia
Hyposplenism (and therefore a susceptibility to encapsulated organisms)
Osteoporosis (a DEXA scan may be required)
Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL; a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
The likelhood or aquiring this malignancy is directly proportional to the strength of overall adherence to a gluten free diet - i.e. the more a patient breaks adherence, the more likely they are to get EATL.
Diagnosis based on this presentation:
- Bronze skin
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Liver cirrhosis
- Adrenal insufficiency
Haemochromatosis
Blood test results in a patients with haemochromatosis:
- Deranged LFTs
- Raised serum ferritin
- Raised transferrin saturation
Low TIBC
Investigations for haemochromatosis:
- Bloods
- Genetic testing can reveal HFE gene defects
- MRI imaging of the brain and heart may show evidence of iron deposition.
- A liver biopsy will show increased iron stores
What gene is associated with haemochromatosis?
HFEC282Y
How to differentiate between biliary colic, acute cholecystitis and ascending cholangitis?
Biliary colic = pain
Acute cholecystitis = pain + fever
Ascending cholangitis = pain + fever + jaundice
What is Murphy’s seen and what is it seen in?
Murphy’s sign on examination: inspiratory arrest upon palpation of the right upper quadrant.
Acute cholecystitis
Management of acute cholecystits?
Ultrasound to diagnose then IV antibiotics, then cholesystectomy for all patients within 1 week.
Prolonged diarrhoea results in what on an ABG?
Prolonged diarrhoea may result in a metabolic acidosis associated with hypokalaemia
Giardia - presentation with diarrhoea and transfer:
Giardia causes fat malabsorption, therefore greasy stool can occur. It is resistant to chlorination, hence risk of transfer in swimming pools.
Features of acute cholecystitis:
- Right upper quadrant pain
- May radiate to the right shoulder
- Fever and signs of systemic upset
- Murphy’s sign on examination: inspiratory arrest upon palpation of the right upper quadrant
- Liver function tests are typically normal
Treatment of acute cholecystitis:
- NICE now recommendearly laparoscopic cholecystectomy, within 1 week of diagnosis.
Also give IV antibiotics.
Boas sign:
Seen in acute cholecystitis.
Boas sign refers to this hyperaesthesia. It occurs because the abdominal wall innervation of this region is from the spinal roots that lie at this level.
Cullen’s sign:
Cullens sign occurs when there has been intraabdominal haemorrage. Seen as bruising over the umbilicus.
It is seen in cases of severe haemorrhagic pancreatitis and is associated with a poor prognosis. It is also seen in other cases of intraabdominal haemorrhage (such as ruptured ectopic pregnancy).
What is 1st line for treating C.diff?
Oral vancomycin
Colicky RUQ abdo pain, worse after fatty foods. Nausea / Vomiting.
Top differential?
Biliary colic
What is Mirizzi syndrome?
A gallstone impacted in the distal cystic duct causing extrinsic compression of the common bile duct.
- LFT’s may be deranged (specifically ALP).
Acute cholecystitis treatment:
IV Antibiotics + cholecystectomy