Gastroenterology Flashcards
Coeliac UK recommends that everyone with coeliac disease is vaccinated against pneumococcal infection and has a booster every 5 years
Due to hyposplenism
According to UK guidelines, long-term prophylaxis with oral ciprofloxacin (or norfloxacin) should be considered for patients at high risk for SBP, such as those with
a previous episode of SBP or
low ascitic fluid protein concentration.
SBP - G negative organisms
Most common,
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Doxy - hepatotoxic- liver disease - danger
Diagnosis of SBP
Diagnosis
paracentesis: neutrophil count > 250 cells/ul
the most common organism found on ascitic fluid culture is E. coli
Antibiotic prophylaxis should be given to patients with ascites if:
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’
Hepatitis B and vertical transmission
• babies born to mothers who are chronically infected with hepatitis B or to mothers who’ve had acute hepatitis B during pregnancy should receive a complete course of vaccination + hepatitis B immunoglobulin
pseudoachalasia
Whilst dysphagia of solids and liquids is a classic history for achalasia, certain features such as significant weight loss are not consistent and suggest cancer - ‘pseudoachalasia’
new-onset dysphagia is a red flag symptom that requires urgent endoscopy, regardless of age or other symptoms.
characteristically presents with right upper quadrant pain associated with refractor ascites.
Budd-Chiari syndrome
typically presents in teenagers or people in their twenties with neurological symptoms followed by liver failure
Wilson’s disease
Hydrogen breath testing is
an appropriate first line test for diagnosis of small bowel overgrowth syndrome
PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS/CIRRHOSIS
(female:male ratio of 9:1)
This substantial increase in risk is primarily due to the chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and subsequent cirrhotic changes that occur in the liver parenchyma over time. The development of cirrhosis, regardless of aetiology, is a major risk factor for HCC, and PBC-related cirrhosis carries this markedly elevated risk.
It is important for clinicians to recognise this markedly elevated risk of HCC in patients with PBC who develop cirrhosis, as it informs the need for regular surveillance with ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein measurements, typically performed every six months, to detect HCC at an early, potentially curable stage.
PBC Associations
Associations
Sjogren’s syndrome (seen in up to 80% of patients)
rheumatoid arthritis
systemic sclerosis
thyroid disease
Coeliac - duodenal biopsy
Duodenal biopsy from a patient with coeliac disease. Flat mucosa with hyperplastic crypts and dense cellular infiltrate in the lamina propria. Increased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and vacuolated superficial epithelial cell vacuolated superficial epithelial cells. Higher magnification image on the right.
ZE syndrome
This patient who presents with refractory dyspepsia, diarrhoea, multiple duodenal ulcerations and CT evidence of a possible primary malignancy is likely to have Zollinger-Ellinson syndrome caused by a gastrin-secreting tumour (gastrinoma).
The multiple duodenal ulcers are caused by increased acid secretion by gastric parietal cells as a consequence of hypergastrinemia. Levels of serum gastrin, if measured, will be very elevated. It is sometimes associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia (type 1) but normal levels of PTH, calcium and prolactin make this unlikely in this case.
are all hormones that inhibit H+ secretion among their other effects and are therefore not the likely cause of numerous duodenal ulcers.
Secretin, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal peptide
**** does not stimulate or inhibit acid secretion but rather causes the release of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and contraction of the gallbladder.
Cholecystokinin
Patients with FAP are also at risk from duodenal tumours. A variant of FAP called *** can also feature osteomas of the skull and mandible, retinal pigmentation, thyroid carcinoma and epidermoid cysts on the skin
Gardner’s syndrome
PBC v/s PSC
PSC affects both small and large bile ducts and has no specific diagnostic antibody.
Heamochromatosis
Ferritin and transferrin saturation are used to monitor treatment in haemochromatosis
SBP most common organisms
The most common causative organisms of SBP are gram-negative enteric bacteria. E coli is by far the most common followed by Klebsiella. The most common gram-positive organism causing SBP is Streptococcus pneumoniae followed by Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus.
Typically only one single organism is involved in the development of SBP. Prophylactic antibiotics (cephalosporins and quinolones) should be given to patients who have ascites and meet certain criteria.
What hormones does these cells secrete
Chief cells
D cells
G cells
Goblet cells secrete.
Chief cells secrete pepsin, a proteolytic enzyme.
D cells in the pancreas & stomach secrete somatostatin hormone.
G cells in the antrum of the stomach secrete gastrin hormone in response to distension of the stomach and vagal stimulation.
Goblet cells secrete an alkaline mucus that protects the epithelium against shear stress and acid.
Dieulafoy lesion
Often no prodromal features prior to haematemesis and melena, but this arteriovenous malformation may produce quite a considerable haemorrhage and may be difficult to detect endoscopically