Gastroenterology Flashcards
Which blood test is the best to screen for hepatitis B infection?
HBsAg - surface antigen - implies active infection or chronic disease. In acute - present for 1-6 months. If present >6months - chronic
What is the first marker to appear in acute hepatitis B infection?
HBsAg
Will there be anti-HBs in chronic Hepatitis B?
No - negative in chronic disease
What does anti-HBs imply?
Immunity - either previous exposure or immunisation
What does the presence of anti-HBc signify?
Either acute or previous infection - IgM anti-HBc in acute or recent infection, present for 6 months. IgG persists long term
What does HBeAg indicate?
Breakdown of core antigen from liver cells - marker of infectivity and viral replication
What will hep B blood tests show in someone who is immunised?
Anti-HBs positive, all else negative
What will blood tests show in someone with previous hepatitis B infection who is not a carrier?
Anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs negative
What is a recognised complication of TIPSS procedure?
exacerbation of hepatic encephalopathy
What are 3 forms of prophylaxis for oesophageal varices?
- propranolol
- endoscopy variceal band ligation- should be done 2 weeks apart until all varices banded
- TIPSS if above unsuccessful
What should be done along side prophylactic EVL for varices?
PPI cover to prevent EVL-related ulceration
What is melanosis coli?
caused by laxative abuse - anthraquinone compounds e.g. senna, cascara result in pigment-laden macrophages in the bowel
When is the carbon isotope 13 (13C) urea breath test not recommended to diagnosis H pylori?
- within 4 weeks of treatment with antibiotics
- within 2 weeks of antisecretory drug e.g. PPI
How is the urea breath test performed?
- patients consume drink containing carbon isotope 13 (13C) enriched urea
- broken down by H pylori urease
- after 30 min patient exhales into glass tube - mass spectrometry analysis calculates amount of 13C CO2
What is the CLO test?
rapid urease test for H pylori; bippsy sample mixed with urea and pH indicator, colour change if H pylori urease activity
What is a drawback of using serum antibody to diagnose H pylori?
remains positive after eradication
What is the difference between culture of gastric biopsy and gastric biopsy for diagnosing H pylori?
culture will provide info on abx sensitivity; gatsric biopsy provides histological evaluation alone, no culture
What are 3 risk factors for giardiasis?
- foreign travel
- swimming / drinking water from a river or lake
- male-male sexual contact
What are 3 investigations for giardiasis?
- stool microscopy for trophozoite and cysts - sensitivity 65%
- stool antigen detection assay - greater sensivitiy and quicker
- PCR assays being developed
How serioues is hepatitis A?
typically a benign, self-limiting disease - serious outcome very rare
What is the incubation period for hepatitis A?
2-4 weeks
What are 5 factors associated with NAFLD?
- obesity
- T2DM
- hyperlipidaemia
- jejunoileal bypass
- sudden weight loss/ starvation
What type of virus causes hepatitis A?
RNA picornavirus
How is hepatitis A spread?
faeco-oral route, often in institutions
What are the clinical features of hepatitis A?
- flu-like prodrome
- RUQ pain
- tender hepatomegaly
- jaundice
- deranged LFTs
What vaccination is available for hepatitis A?
effective vaccine available, booster dose should be given 6-12 months after the initial dose
What are 6 groups of people who should be vaccinated for hepatitis A?
- people travelling to / going to reside in areas of intermediate - high prevalence if aged >1 year
- chronic liver disease
- haemophilia
- MSM
- IVDU
- occupational risk: lab worker, staff of large residential institutions, sewage, primates
What is thought to be the main mechanism by whcih obesity leads to NAFLD?
insulin resistance
What LFT findings are present in NAFLD?
ALT typically greater than AST
What test is used to test for advanced fibrosis in incidentally identified NAFLD (asymptomatic fatty changes on liver US)?
ELF blood test (enhanced liver fibrosis) - hyaluronic acid + procollagen III + tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1
What options are available if ELF testing is not available to investigate NAFLD (diagnosis + monitoring)?
FIB4 score or NAFLD fibrosis scan +- FibroScan
What is the mainstay of treatment for NAFLD?
lifestyle changes (weight loss) + monitoring (research into role of gastric-banding and insulin-sensitising drugs e.g. metformin, pioglitazone)
What is the management of advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD?
referred to liver specialist - likely to have liver biopsy to stage more accurately
What do blood tests typically show in alcoholic liver disease?
AST/ALT ratio >2:1, GGT > 2x normal
What distinguishes chronic hep B from acute hep B in blood tests?
anti-HBc antibody positive in chronic (not acute)
What is the leading cause of chronic viral infection of the liver in the West?
hepatitis C
Which gender is classically affected by AIH?
female
What are 4 characteristic blood tests in AIH?
- high gamma globulins, esp IgG
- High transaminases >2000
- ANA
- SMA
What are 9 features of haemochromatosis?
- cutaneous hyperpigmentation - bronze
- diabetes mellitus
- chronic liver disease
- dilated cardiomyopathy
- cardiac conduction disorders
- hypothyroidism
- hypogonadism - impotence, loss of libido
- arthropathy
What are 4 examples of causes of secondary NAFLD?
- amiodarone
- tamoxigen
- hep C
- PCOS
What is found on blood tests in NAFLD?
ALT raised up to 3x ULN, ALT:AST >1. persistent elevation LFTs for >3 months
What is the inheritance pattern of hereditary haemochromatosis?
autosomal recessive
Which race is typically affected by haemochromatosis?
caucasian
What type of arthralgias are common in haemochromatosis?
pseudogout and chronic arthropathy; small joints of hands commonly affected
What blood tests are key in diagnosing haemochromatosis?
transferrin saturation (30% is normal) rises >45% (+ ferritin elevated)
What is the inheritance pattern of Wilson’s disease?
autosomal recessive
What is the characteristic blood test finding in Wilson’s disease?
reduced serum caeruloplasmin
What type of hyperbilirubinaemia is seen in Gilbert’s syndrome?
unconjugated (no bilirubinuria)
What 2 things increase the unconjugated plasma bilirubin in Gilbert’s syndrome?
- low energy diet
- IV injection of nicotinic acid
What are 6 conditions that predispose to Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- myeloproliferative disorders e.g. PCV, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- pregnancy
- tumours
- chronic inflammatory diseases
- clotting disorders
- infections
What are 5 key features of the presentation of Budd Chiari syndrome?
- hepatomegaly
- ascites
- abdominal pain
- LFTs may be mildly elevated
- ascitic fluid has high protein content
What may be present on imaging in Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- CT or MTI may show prominent caudate lobe
- doppler US may help exclude hepatic venous or inferior vena cava thrombosis
What will liver biopsy show in Budd-Chiari syndrome?
centrilobular congestion
What are 3 possible aspects of the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- treat underlying haematological condition
- surgical decompression of liver e.g. TIPS, balloon angioplasty/stent for inferior vena caval web
- liver transplant
In which part of the pancreas do most pancreatic carcinoma cases occur?
head of pancreas (70%)
what is Courvoisier’s law?
in the presence of a palpable gallbladder, painless jaundice is unlikely ot be caused by gallstones (gallstones cause shrunken, fibrotic gallbladder)
What is the management of pancreatic carcinoma?
surgery (radical pancreaticoduodenectomy aka Whipple’s) - suitable in <10% who present
What is the first line management for mild to moderate C difficile infection?
oral vancomycin 10 days
What are 5 complications of Clostridium difficile infection?
- Pseudomembranous colitis
- Toxic megacolon
- Perforation of the colon
- Sepsis
- Death
What is the second line management for mild to moderate C difficile infection?
oral fidaxomicin, 10 days
What are the causes of portal hypertension and how can they be divided?
- Pre-hepatic - portal vein thrombosis, abdo trauma
- Intrahepatic - presinusoidal: schistosomiasis, drugs, sarcoid
- Intrahepatic - sinusoidal: cirrhosis, polycystic liver, metastatic malignant disease
- Intrahepatic - postsinusoidal: veno-occlusive disease
- Post-hepatic - Budd-Chiari syndrome
What is the commonest cause of portal hypertension in the Western world?
liver cirrhosis
What is the commonest cause of portal hypertension in Africa?
schistosomiasis
What evidence may be seen on blood tests of splenomegaly in portal hypertension and why?
pancytopenia - reticuloendothelial hyperplasia (not reversible)
What are 4 key investigations in portal hypertension?
- bloods
- portal doppler US - portal vein patency
- MRI or CT aniography - portal and hepatic veins
- Abdo US (cirrhosis, ascites, splenomegaly)
Is measurement of portal pressure required to diagnose portal hypertension?
no - invasive, expensive + complication - can be clinical
What are the direct and indirect methods for portal pressure measurement?
- direct: cannulation of hepatic vein + measuring free hepatic vein pressure
- indirect: balloon occlusion of hepatic vein + measurement of wedged hepatic vein pressure; calculte hepatic venous pressure gradient from this
What are the key features of PBC (primary biliary cholangitis)?
Presents in middle aged females with lethargy, pruritus
- IgM
- Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (M2 subtype)
- obstructive LFTs (raised ALP and GGT)
What vitamin is thiamine also known as?
B1
What is the classic triad of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- encephalopathy
- ataxia
- ophthalmoplegia/nystagmus
(+ peripheral sensory neuropathy)
What are 2 investigations in Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- decreased red cell transketolase
- MRI
How does Korsakoff’s differ from Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
same symptoms, plus anterograde + retrograde amnesia, + confabulations
What process is happening in primary biliary cholangitis (/cirrhosis)?
autoimmune disease of the liver with destruction of the bile canaliculi within the liver
What is the treatment of life-threatening C difficile infection?
oral vancomycin and IV metronidazole; specialist advice (surgery may be considered)
What are 3 criteria for life-threatening C difficile infection?
- Hypotension
- Partial or complete ileus
- Toxic megacolon, or CT evidence of severe disease
What is the management of recurrent C diff?
- if recurs within 12 weeks of symptoms resolution: oral fidaxomicin
- after 12 weeks: oral vancomycin OR fidaxomicin
Why is spironolactone the diuretic of choice for ascites?
patients with cirrhosis develop a secondary hyperaldosteronism
What are 2 adverse effects of spironolactone?
- hyperkalaemia
- gynaecomastia (less common with eplerenone)
What is Curling’s ulcer?
acute peptic stress ulcer, complication of severe burns - necrosis of gastric mucosa secondary to hypovolaemia
Of UC and Crohn’s, which one is exacerbated by smoking and which is improved?
- Crohn’s - smoking makes it worse
- UC - smoking makes it better
What management is used first line to induce remission in Crohn’s disease in adults?
glucocorticoids - oral, topical or IV
What alternative to glucocorticoid therapy may be used to induce remission in Crohn’s in some situations?
enteral feeding with elemental diet - in addition or instead of other measures, particularly if concern re side effects of steroids (e.g. young children)
What treatment is second-line to glucocorticoids for inducing remission in Crohn’s disease?
5-ASA drugs e.g. mesalazine
What drugs may be used as add-on therapy to induce remission in Crohn’s disease?
azathioprine or mercaptopurine (methotrexate is alternative to azathioprine) - NOT used as monotherapy
glucocorticoids first line, 2nd line 5-ASAs
What drug may be used for isolated perianal disease in Crohn’s?
metronidazole
What is used first line to maintain remission in Crohn’s?
azathioprine or mercaptopurine
methotrexate second line
What is the investigation of choice for suspected perianal fistulae?
MRI
looks for abscess and whether simple (low) or complex (high fistula)
What is the difference between a simple and complex perianal fistula?
simple is a low fistula, complex is a high fistula that passes through or above muscle layers
What are the management options for perianal fistulae in CD?
- oral metronidazole
- anti-TNF e.g. infliximab - good for closing
- draining seton - for complex fistulae
When is platelet transfusion indicated in UGIB?
active bleeding + platlet count <50
What is an aorto-enteric fistula?
in previous abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, aorto-enteric fistulation is rare but important cause of major haemorrhage
What should be given in UGIB for patient on warfarin?
IV prothrombin complex concentrate
How is induction of remission done in UC in general?
Mild-moderate:
- If distal disease - rectal 5ASA
- If disease more extensive topical + oral 5ASA
( -> oral 5ASA -> steroid)
Severe:
- IV steroid (ciclosporin if CI)
How is remission maintained in UC?
Oral 5ASA or oral +-topical (sometimes topical alone)
What is the drug used to maintain remission in UC if there has been a severe relapse or 2 or more in the last year?
Azathioprine or mercaptopurine (NOT methotrexate)
How is the severity of a UC flare graded?
Truelove and Witts
- mild - <4 stools per day, only small amount of blood
- moderate - 4-6 stools/day, varying blood, no systemic upset
- severe - >6 stools/day, systemic upset