Gastrointestinal Flashcards
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
- umbrella term for disease causing inflammation of the GI tract
- associated with periods of remission and exacerbation
- crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s vs UC: Crohn’s
NESTS
- no blood or mucous (less common)
- entire GI tract
- skip lesions on endoscopy
- terminal ileum most affected and transmural (full thickness) inflammation
- smoking is a risk factor
also associated with weight loss, strictures and fistulas
Crohn’s vs UC: UC
CLOSEUP
- continuous inflammation
- limited to colon and rectum
- only superficial mucosa affected
- smoking is protective
- excrete blood and mucus
- use aminosalicyclates
- primary sclerosing cholangitis
Presentation of inflammatory bowel disease
- diarrhoea
- abdominal pain
- passing blood
- weight loss
Testing for inflammatory bowel disease
- routine bloods
- CRP → inflammation and active disease
- faecal calprotectin
- DIAGNOSTIC = endoscopy (OGD/colonoscopy) with biopsy
- imaging → complications
What is faecal calprotectin?
- released by intestines when inflamed
- >90% sensitive and specific to IBD in adults
What does management of IBD involve?
- inducing remission
- maintaining remission
- surgery
Inducing remission in Crohn’s
- steroids → oral prednisolone, IV hydrocortisone
- consider adding immunosuppressants
What immunosuppressants can be used in Crohn’s
- mercaptopurine
- azathioprinee
- methotrexate
- adalimumab
- infliximab
Maintaining remission in Crohn’s
based on risks, side effects, nature of the disease, patient’s wishes
- azathioprine, mercaptopurine
alternatives = rest of the immunosuppressants
Surgery in Crohn’s
- if only distal ileum affected → surgical resection of area to prevent further flare ups
- treat stricture and fistulas
Inducing remission in UC
mild to moderate
- aminosalicylates eg mesalazine
- corticosteroids eg prednisolone
severe
- IV corticosteroids eg hydrocortisone
- IV ciclosporin
Maintaining remission in UC
- aminosalicylates
- azathioprine
- mercaptopurine
Surgery in UC
- removal of colon and rectum → panproctocolectomy
- patient left with permanent ileostomy or ileo-anal anastomosis
What is IBS?
- functional bowel disorder
- no identifiable organic disease underlying symptoms
- result of abnormal functioning of normal bowel
- very common, more common if young/female
Symptoms of IBS
ABCDEF
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- eating makes it worse
- fluctuating bowel habit
- improved by opening bowels
Diagnostic criteria of IBS
diagnosis of exclusion
- normal bloods
- faecal calprotectin -ve
- coeliac disease serology -ve
- cancer not suspected/excluded
Management of IBS
- general healthy diet and exercise advice
- loperamide for diarrhoea, linaclotide for constipation, antispasmodics for cramps
- tricyclic antidepressants
- SSRIs
can also offer CBT
What is coeliac disease?
- exposure to gluten = autoimmune reaction that causes inflammation in small bowel
- usually develops in early childhood
Pathophysiology of coeliac disease
- auto-antibodies created in response to gluten
- target epithelial cells of the intestine → inflammation
- affects small bowel esp jejunum
- causes atrophy of intestinal villi and crypt hypertrophy
- malabsorption of nutrients → symptoms
Presentation of coeliac disease
- often asymptomatic
- failure to thrive in children
- mouth ulcers
- anaemia secondary to iron, B12, folate deficiency
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- neurological symptoms (rare)
What is dermatitis herpetiformis?
itchy blistering skin rash that typically appears on the abdomen
Diagnosis of coeliac
- raised anti-TTG
- raised anti-EMA
- total IgA levels → exclude IgA deficiency first
- endoscopy and intestinal biopsy → crypt hypertrophy and villous atrophy
What conditions are associated with coeliac disease?
- T1DM
- thyroid disease
- autoimmune hepatitis
- PBC
- PSC
- Down’s syndrome
Complications of coeliac disease
- vitamin deficiency
- anaemia
- osteoporosis
- ulcerative jejunitis
- non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
Treatment for coeliac diease
lifelong gluten free diet
What is GORD?
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- acid from stomach refluxes through the lower oesophageal sphincter and irritates lining of oesophagus
Why is the oesophagus more sensitive to stomach acid?
the epithelial lining is squamous
Presentation of GORD
- dyspepsia
- heartburn
- acid regurgitation
- retrosternal/epigastric pain
- bloating
- nocturnal cough
- hoarse voice