Gastroenterology Flashcards
What test can be used to confirm gilbert’s syndrome
nicotininc acid test. Gilberts is due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme glucuronyl transferase, which helps to break down bilirubin in the liver. The nicotinic acid test can confirm this diagnosis as it leads to an exaggerated and prolonged increase in serum unconjugated bilirubin levels in patients with Gilbert’s syndrome due to impairment of hepatic uptake and conjugation of bilirubin.
What scoring system can be used to assess likelihood of acute appendicitis
The correct answer is the Alvarado score. It consists of eight different criteria (symptoms, signs and laboratory results) and divides patients into appendicitis unlikely, possible, probable and definite.
What drugs cause a hepatocellular picture of drug induced liver disease
paracetamol
sodium valproate, phenytoin
MAOIs
halothane
anti-tuberculosis: isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide
statins
alcohol
amiodarone
methyldopa
nitrofurantoin
What drugs cause a cholestasis +/- hepatitis drug induced liver disease
combined oral contraceptive pill
antibiotics: flucloxacillin, co-amoxiclav, erythromycin*
anabolic steroids, testosterones
phenothiazines: chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine
sulphonylureas
fibrates
rare reported causes: nifedipine
*risk may be reduced with erythromycin stearate
What drugs cause liver cirrhosis drug induced liver disease?
methotrexate
methyldopa
amiodarone
What are the features of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)
Affects both adults and children
What are the features of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis
Anti-liver/kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1)
Affects children only
What are the features of type 3 autoimmune hepatitis
Soluble liver-kidney antigen
Affects adults in middle-age
What are the features of type 3 autoimmune hepatitis
Soluble liver-kidney antigen
Affects adults in middle-age
What drug should be avoided in IBS?
Lactulose- is a synthetic disaccharide that works by drawing water into the bowel, softening stools and increasing bowel movements. However, it can also cause bloating, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort, which are common symptoms of IBS.
What are the two types of HRS and what are the prognosis of both of them
TYPE 1: Rapidly progressive
Doubling of serum creatinine to > 221 µmol/L or a halving of the creatinine clearance to less than 20 ml/min over a period of less than 2 weeks
Very poor prognosis
TYPE 2: Slowly progressive
Prognosis poor, but patients may live for longer
What is the management of hepatorenal syndrome?
vasopressin analogues, for example terlipressin, have a growing evidence base supporting their use. They work by causing vasoconstriction of the splanchnic circulation
volume expansion with 20% albumin
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
What is the most common SBP organize
E.coli
When should antibiotic prophylaxis be given in patients with ascites?
-patients who have had an episode of SBP
-patients with fluid protein <15 g/l and either Child-Pugh score of at least 9 or hepatorenal syndrome
-NICE recommend: ‘Offer prophylactic oral ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin for people with cirrhosis and ascites with an ascitic protein of 15 g/litre or less until the ascites has resolved’
What is the mamangement of life threatening CDI?
ORAL VANC AND IV METRONDIAZOLE
Oral vancomycin has low systemic absorption, making it effective at managing intestinal infections. It can also be given NG or as an enema if needed. Other recommendations include bowel rest, fluid and electrolyte replacement and cessation of medications that impair gut motility.
What characterises mild C. difficle
normal WCC
What characterises moderate C. diff
↑ WCC ( < 15 x 109/L)
Typically 3-5 loose stools per day
What characterises severe CD?
↑ WCC ( > 15 x 109/L)
or an acutely ↑ creatinine (> 50% above baseline)
or a temperature > 38.5°C
or evidence of severe colitis(abdominal or radiological signs)
What characterises life threatening CD?
Hypotension
Partial or complete ileus
Toxic megacolon, or CT evidence of severe disease
What are some of the histological features of chrohn’s disease?
Inflammation in all layers from mucosa to serosa
increased goblet cells
granulomas
What are some of the histological features of UC?
No inflammation beyond submucosa (unless fulminant disease) - inflammatory cell infiltrate in lamina propria
neutrophils migrate through the walls of glands to form crypt abscesses
depletion of goblet cells and mucin from gland epithelium
granulomas are infrequent
What are some of the endoscopic features of Chrohn’s
Deep ulcers, skip lesions - ‘cobble-stone’ appearance
What are some of the endoscopic features of UC?
Widespread ulceration with preservation of adjacent mucosa which has the appearance of polyps (‘pseudopolyps’)
When is glasgow blatchford score used in UGI bleed?
First assessment (F next to G)
helps clinicians decide whether patient patients can be managed as outpatients or not
When is Rockall used
After endoscopy
provides a percentage risk of rebleeding and mortality
includes age, features of shock, co-morbidities, aetiology of bleeding and endoscopic stigmata of recent haemorrhage
What is the proper name for thread worm?
Enterobius vermicularis
perianal itching, particularly at night
girls may have vulval symptoms
What the NICE bariatric referral cut offs
with risk factors (T2DM, BP etc): > 35 kg/m^2
no risk factors: > 40 kg/m^2
What are types of bariatric surgeries?Primarily restrictive operations
-laparoscopic-adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)
it is normally the first-line intervention in patients with a BMI of 30-39kg/m^2
produces less weight loss than malabsorptive or mixed procedures but as it has fewer complications
-sleeve gastrectomy
stomach is reduced to about 15% of its original size
-intragastric balloon
the balloon can be left in the stomach for a maximum of 6 months
What are types of bariatric surgeries? Primarily malabsorptive operations
biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
usually reserved for very obese patients (e.g. BMI > 60 kg/m^2)
What are types of bariatrics surgeries? Mixed operations of both restrictive and malabsorptive
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
How is C. Diff spread
Faeco-oral via spores
What is the IBS A-C
Abdominal pain, and/or
Bloating, and/or
Change in bowel habit
When is a positive diagnosis of IBS made?
should be made if the patient has abdominal pain relieved by defecation or associated with altered bowel frequency stool form, in addition to 2 of the following 4 symptoms:
-altered stool passage (straining, urgency, incomplete evacuation)
-abdominal bloating (more common in women than men), distension, tension or hardness
-symptoms made worse by eating
-passage of mucus
What should be done to ensure a gastric ulcer has resolved
NICE guidance on peptic ulcers states ‘ensure all people with a proven gastric ulcer have a repeat endoscopy to confirm healing, and Helicobacter pylori re-testing (if appropriate)’. this is done by urea breath test
When should urea breath tests NOT be used
should not be performed within 4 weeks of treatment with an antibacterial or within 2 weeks of an antisecretory drug (e.g. a proton pump inhibitor)
What type of bilirubin does gilberts have
unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (i.e. not in urine). jaundice may only be seen during an intercurrent illness, exercise or fasting
What is gold standard test for GORD?
24hr oesophageal pH monitoring
What is primary biliary cholangitis commonly seen in and what is the M rule?
Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic liver disorder typically seen in middle-aged females (female:male ratio of 9:1).- the M rule
IgM
anti-Mitochondrial antibodies, M2 subtype
Middle aged females
What are some associations of PBC?
Sjogren’s syndrome (seen in up to 80% of patients)
rheumatoid arthritis
systemic sclerosis
thyroid disease
What are some clincial features of PBC?
early: may be asymptomatic (e.g. raised ALP on routine LFTs) or fatigue, pruritus
cholestatic jaundice
hyperpigmentation, especially over pressure points
around 10% of patients have right upper quadrant pain
xanthelasmas, xanthomata
also: clubbing, hepatosplenomegaly
late: may progress to liver failure
What is the diagnosis of PBC made by?
-immunology
anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) M2 subtype are present in 98% of patients and are highly specific
smooth muscle antibodies in 30% of patients
raised serum IgM
-imaging
required before diagnosis to exclude an extrahepatic biliary obstruction (typically a right upper quadrant ultrasound or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
What is the management of PBC?
-first-line: ursodeoxycholic acid
slows disease progression and improves symptoms
-pruritus: cholestyramine
-fat-soluble vitamin supplementation
-liver transplantation
e.g. if bilirubin > 100 (PBC is a major indication)
recurrence in graft can occur but is not usually a problem