Gastro + Endo + Nephro Flashcards
H pylori post eradication therapy
NICE guidance advises that we should not routinely offer H. pylori re-testing, however we can consider re-testing if:
There has been poor compliance to eradication therapy
Aspirin or NSAID is indicated
There is a family history of gastric malignancy
The person requests re-testing
They advise that re-testing should ideally be done 8 weeks after initial eradication therapy and the carbon-13 urea breath test should be used first-line.
GI bleed scoring system
blatchford bleeding risk
rockall rebleeding risk
1st-3rd line therapy c diff
first-line therapy is oral vancomycin for 10 days
second-line therapy: oral fidaxomicin
third-line therapy: oral vancomycin +/- IV metronidazole
C peptide and type 1 vs type 2 diabetes?
C peptides raised in type 2
Prolactinoma treatment
Dopamine agonist (e.g cabergoline, bromocriptine)
surgery if fail to respond
acromegaly and elevated IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) investigations
OGTT and serial GH levels
acromegaly how to diagnose
1st = serum IGF-1
2nd= OGTT+ serial GH
in normal patients if hyperglycaemic then GH reduced, but in acromegaly GH still high
what marker monitors disease In acromegaly
IGF-1
crushing syndrome metabolic disturbance
hypokalaemia metabolic alkalosis
Bicarbonate resorption is increased in the tubules with potassium depletion causing metabolic alkalosis.
Gynaecomastia causes: drugs
spironolactone (most common drug cause)
cimetidine
digoxin
cannabis
finasteride
GnRH agonists e.g. goserelin, buserelin
oestrogens, anabolic steroids
Treatment for galactorrhoea
bromocriptine (dopamine agonist)
how do thiazides impact Ca level
HYPERcalacemia
what is subclinical hypothyroid
TSH above range but normal thyroxine
Subclinical hypothyroidism with TSH level of level is 5.5 - 10mU/L: offer patients < 65 years a 6-month trial of thyroxine if TSH remains at that level on 2 separate occasions 3 months apart and they have hypothyroidism symptoms
what medication interacts with thyroxine absorption
iron
Kallman’s syndrome hormone level
low LH & FSH and testosterone (failure of GnRH secreting neurones in hypothalamus)
Kallman = Fallman
Poor Kall the man cannot smell
chromosome = X linked drecessive
Klinefelter Sx
High FSH and high LH. But low testosterone. Tall, no secondary sexual characteristics. Small firm testes + gynecomastia.
Addisons and hyperpigmentation
primary Addison’s is associated with hyperpigmentation whereas secondary adrenal insufficiency is not
secondary causes= tumours, irradiation, infiltration, exogenous steroids
Diabetes-specific autoantiboits T2DM vs T1DM
in type 1 C peptide LOW but others present
OGTT test: imaired glucose tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is defined as fasting plasma glucose less than 7.0 mmol/l and OGTT 2-hour value greater than or equal to 7.8 mmol/l but less than 11.1 mmol/l
drug causes raised prolactin (and –> galacctoreoa)
metoclopramide, domperidone
phenothiazines
haloperidol
very rare: SSRIs, opioids
non drug causes raised prolactin
prolactinoma
pregnancy
oestrogens
physiological: stress, exercise, sleep
acromegaly: 1/3 of patients
polycystic ovarian syndrome
primary hypothyroidism (due to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulating prolactin release)
T1DM with bloating, vomiting and erratic CGMs? what med to try
metoclopramide
tender goitre, hyperthyroidism and raised ESR. The globally reduced uptake on technetium thyroid scan is also typical
Sub acute (De Quervains) thyroiditis
diabetes medicaition and BMI>35 - what to consider?
GLP-1 (e.g. exenatide)
FOR SPECIALSITS ONLY
GLP-1 receptor agonists should only be continued if there is a reduction of at least 11 mmol/mol [1.0%] in HbA1c and a weight loss of at least 3% of initial body weight in 6 months.
Who avoids SGLT-2?
FOOT ULCER
should be avoided in active foot disease (such as skin ulceration, osteomyelitis, or gangrene) due to the possible increased risk of lower limb amputation (mainly toes).
T2DM triple therapy not worked.. what to do?
if a triple combination of drugs has failed to reduce HbA1c then switching one of the drugs for a GLP-1 mimetic is recommended, particularly if the BMI > 35
most common cause of cushings SYDNROME
pituitary adeoma (aka cushings DISEASE) - ACTH
Thiazolinediones - what is the the side effects?
e.g. Pioglitazone
T2DM medication
weight gain
liver impairment
fluid retention –. CONTRAINDICATED in hearty failure
increased fractures
bladder cancer
which diabetic meds cause weight gain
gliclazide and prioglitazone
thyrotoxicosis with tender goitre
de Quervains thyroiditis
Addisons and vomiting
take IM hydrocortisone until vomiting stops
hypoglycaemia - what two things to measure to investigate cause? (2)
What does this show? (2)
Serum insulin and C-peptite
Insulin HIGH C peptide HIGH = endogenous insulin production (insulinoma/ sulfonylrea)
Insulin HIGH C peptide LOW = exogenous (added too much)
Insulin Low C peptide LOW = non inulin cause e.g. alcohol, critical illness, adrenal insufficient, GH deficiency, fasting/ starvation
a HbAlc value of less than 48 mmol/mol (6.5%)
does not exclude diabetes (i.e. it is not as sensitive as fasting samples for detecting diabetes) –> consider fasting glucose sample
T4 vs T3
T4 is the synthetic form
raised ESR
AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS e.g. hashimotos thyroiditis
Addisons - high or low aldosteronism
PRIMARY HYPOaldosteronism
hypercalacemia- two most common causes
malignancy and PTH
-> PTH best test for confimin diagnosis
e.g. if PTH raised or normal = Primary hyperparathyroidism
PTHrP tumour
squamous cell lung cancer
how do sulfonyluyrea work
bind to an ATP-dependent K+(KATP) channel on the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells
–> insulin release
(hence why you get weight gain)
Crohns:
how to induce remission (3)
fistulating disease (1)
peri-anal disease (1)
what diet? (1)
1st line - glucocorticoids (budesonide as alternative)
THEN
2nd line - 5-ASA drugs (e.g. mesalazine)
3rd line= azathioprine or mercaptopurine as add on
fistulating/ reflractory= inflixamab
peri-anal disease= metronidazole
diet= enteral feeding with an elemental diet may be used in addition to or instead of other measures to induce remission, particularly if there is concern regarding the side-effects of steroids (for example in young children)
Crohns:
maintaining remission? (1)
smoking: what to do? (1)
perianal disease (3)
azathioprine or mercatopurine
stop smoking
peri-anal disease: MRI
metronidazole
anti-TNF (infliximab)
draining seton for complex
Crohns:
common complications (3)
small bowel cancer
colorectal cancer
osteoporosis
Diarrhoea:
acid-base balance seen on arterial blood gas?
Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis
diarrhoea= loose bicarbonate = loose alkaloid ions = blood is acidotic
It is a normal anion gap as acidosis is not a result of acidotic ion production, such as lactate, ketosis, or salicylate acid.
Causes of anion gap metabolic acidosis
lactate (shock, sepsis, hypoxia)
ketones: diabetic ketoacidosis
alcohol
urate: renal failure
acid poisoning: salicylates, methanol
Iron studies:
how to tell difference between deficiency anaemia vs. anaemia of chronic disease (1)
TIBC is high in IDA, and low/normal in anaemia of chronic disease
ACD:
normochromic/hypochromic, normocytic anaemia
reduced serum and TIBC
normal or raised ferritin
- TIBC measures the number of binding sites on transferrin available for iron. It therefore also increases in ID and decreases in ACD.
Transferrin: how does it change in iron deficiency
- Transferrin is the body’s carrier of iron around the blood. In states of iron deficiency, transferrin increases as the body tries to ‘make the most’ of what iron it has left, meaning that transferrin levels go up.
- Anaemia of chronic disease is the body’s physiological response to a danger, such as a potentially harmful pathogen. Like humans, pathogens require iron for metabolism and survival. Therefore, in ACD, the body reduces iron available for pathogens by circulating less around the blood. This means that transferrin decreases.
- TIBC measures the number of binding sites on transferrin available for iron. It therefore also increases in ID and decreases in ACD.
Iron studies:
when is ferritin high/low? (2)
high= inflammatory disorders
low= IDA
Which Abx causes C diff? (1)
what other drug linked to it? (1)
Clindamycin
PPI !
C diff:
distinguishing features for severe/ life threatening? (2)
severe:
increased WCC, temperature
life threatening:
hypotension, partial/complete ileus, toxic megacolon
C diff:
diagnosis (1)
is made by detecting C. difficile toxin (CDT) in the stool
C. difficile antigen positivity only shows exposure to the bacteria, rather than current infection
C diff: 1st/2nd/3rd management (3)
if recurrent (2)
life-threatening (1)
first-line therapy is oral vancomycin for 10 days
second-line therapy: oral fidaxomicin
third-line therapy: oral vancomycin +/- IV metronidazole
Recurrent episode
recurrent infection occurs in around 20% of patients, increasing to 50% after their second episode
within 12 weeks of symptom resolution: oral fidaxomicin
after 12 weeks of symptom resolution: oral vancomycin OR fidaxomicin
Life-threatening C. difficile infection
oral vancomycin AND IV metronidazole
specialist advice - surgery may be considered
flushing, diarrhoea, bronchospasm, hypotension, and weight loss.
carcinoid tumor
5-HIAA (the tumor will serete serotonin)
usually occurs when metastases are present in the liver and release serotonin into the systemic circulation
may also occur with lung carcinoid as mediators are not ‘cleared’ by the liver
Coagulopathy:
all clotting factors are low except for factor VIII. Both PT and APTT prolonged.
liver failure
Coagulopathy:
VIII low only (1)
IX low only (1)
Haemophilia A
Haemophilia B
Diabsts insipidus: causes
either ADH decreased secretion from pituitary OR insensitivity to ADH
idiopathic
post head injury
pituitary surgery
craniopharyngiomas
infiltrative
histiocytosis X
sarcoidosis
DIDMOAD is the association of cranial Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness (also known as Wolfram’s syndrome)
haemochromatosis
Pernicious anaemia:
which Vitamin? (1)
other causes of deficiency (3)
diagnosis (1)
B12
Other causes include atrophic gastritis (e.g. secondary to H. pylori infection), gastrectomy, malnutrition (e.g. alcoholism)
Anti intrinsic factor antibodies
Pernicious anemaia: feature
anaemia features
lethargy
pallor
dyspnoea
neurological features
peripheral neuropathy: ‘pins and needles’, numbness. Typically symmetrical and affects the legs more than the arms
subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord: progressive weakness, ataxia and paresthesias that may progress to spasticity and paraplegia
neuropsychiatric features: memory loss, poor concentration, confusion, depression, irritabiltiy
other features
mild jaundice: combined with pallor results in a ‘lemon tinge’
atrophic glossitis → sore tongue
Pernicious anaemia management
Management
vitamin B12 replacement
usually given intramuscularly
no neurological features: 3 injections per week for 2 weeks followed by 3 monthly treatment of vitamin B12 injections
more frequent doses are given for patients with neurological features
there is some evidence that oral vitamin B12 may be effective for providing maintenance levels of vitamin B12 but it is not yet common practice
folic acid supplementation may also be required
A BMI >30 kg/m², increased hepatic echogenicity on liver ultrasound, and an ALT:AST ratio >2
NAFLD
Barretts:
management
high-dose proton pump inhibitor
whilst this is commonly used in patients with Barrett’s the evidence base that this reduces the change of progression to dysplasia or induces regression of the lesion is limited
endoscopic surveillance with biopsies
for patients with metaplasia (but not dysplasia) endoscopy is recommended every 3-5 years
if dysplasia of any grade is identified endoscopic intervention is offered. Options include:
radiofrequency ablation: preferred first-line treatment, particularly for low-grade dysplasia
endoscopic mucosal resection