GI Flashcards
What gene increases your risk of IBD?
HLA-B27 (for all seronegative spondyloarthropathy)
What age is IBD most common?
Bimodal:
* 15-20
* 55+
What are some risk factors/ causes of Crohns (4)?
- Family history
- Smoking
- NOD-2 mutation
- Recent bacterial infection
What are some risk factors/ causes for UC (2)?
- Family history
- Recent bacterial infection
What antibodies can be found in people with UC?
pANCA autoantibodies
What is protective against UC?
Smoking
Where does Crohns affect?
Whole GI tract (especially terminal ileum and proximal colon, often spares rectum)
Which layers of gut wall does Crohns affect?
Transmural (all layers)
What does the body fail to absorb in Crohns?
Pretty much anything especially B12, folate (B9), Fe, H2O
Where does UC affect?
Colon only (including rectum)
Which layers of the gut wall does UC affect?
Confined to mucosa
What does the body fail to absorb in UC and why?
H2O as this is absorbed in the colon
What are the signs/ symptoms of IBD (3)?
- Pain abdomen
- Weight loss
- Diarrhoea
Which IBD is bloody, mucous diarrhoea more commonly found in?
UC
Where can pain specifically be felt in UC and Crohns?
- Crohns = RLQ
- UC = LLQ
When else can pain be felt in UC?
During defecation in the rectum (as ulcers can be found very far along)
What are some extra intestinal signs/ symptoms of IBD (4)?
- Episcleritis / uveitis (eye inflammation)
- Erythema nodosum / pyoderma gangrenosum (skin lesions)
- Aphthmous mouth ulcers
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (only UC)
Which one of these 4 extra intestinal signs is more common in Crohns?
Aphthmous mouth ulcers (think Crohns even affects the mouth)
How is Crohns investigated (4)?
- High CRP and faecal calprotectin
- Endoscopy
- Biopsy
- Imaging e.g. mri, xray (check for complications)
What would a Crohns endoscopy show?
Skip lesions + cobblestoning, strictures (narrowed area)
What would a Crohns biopsy show?
Transmural inflammation, non caseating granulomas (not from infection)
What is faecal calprotectin?
Released by intestines when inflamed
How is UC investigated?
- High CRP and faecal calprotectin
- Colonoscopy
- Biopsy
- Imaging (check for complications)
What would a UC colonoscopy show?
Continuous ‘lead pipe’ appearance
What would a UC biopsy show?
Mucosal inflammation with crypt hyperplasia + abscesses
How is IBD treated with medication for flares?
THIS IS WRONG, re-write flash card
1. Sulfasalazine
2. Prednisolone (steroid)
How is IBD treated with medication during remission?
THIS IS WRONG, re-write all IBD treatment flashcards
1. Azathioprine
2. Methotrexate
What drug can be used if others do not work for IBD?
Infliximab (monoclonal antibody)
How else can IBD be treated (non pharmacologically)?
Surgery
What are some complications of Crohns (4)?
- Fistula
- strictures
- Abscesses
- Bowel obstruction
What is a serious complication of UC?
Toxic megacolon
What is coeliacs disease?
Autoimmune condition where exposure to gluten –> inflammation of small bowel
What type hypersensitivity is coeliacs disease?
Type 4
What genes have been associated with coeliacs disease?
- HLA-DQ2
- HLA-DQ8
What part of gluten causes coeliacs disease?
Prolamines in gluten (alpha gliadin)
What 2 auto antibodies are produced in coeliacs disease?
- Anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG)
- Anti-endomysial (anti-EMA)
What has coeliacs disease been associated with?
- T1DM
- Autoimmune thyroid diseases
Some other autoimmune diseases (in GI/hep system)
Which part of the small intestine is most commonly affected in coeliacs?
Proximal Jejunum, duodenum (biopsy taken from duo)
What are signs/ symptoms of coeliacs disease (4)?
- Anaemia
- Weight loss/ failure to thrive
- Diarrhoea/ steatorrhoea (fat in shit)
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
What causes anaemia in coeliacs disease?
Malabsorption (Fe, B12 and folate deficiency)
What is dermatitis herpetiformis?
Itchy blistery skin rash
In coeliacs
How is Coeliacs disease diagnosed?
- Antibody testing
- Duodenal biopsy = gold standard
Which antibodies are tested in Coeliacs disease?
tTg-IgA (anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA)
What can often cause a false negative result in coeliacs disease when measuring immunoglobulin presence?
IgA deficient patients
What antibody can be tested in IgA deficient patients who are suspected to have coeliacs?
tTg-IgG
What would a duodenal biopsy show in coeliacs?
Crypt hyperplasia + villous atrophy
How is coeliacs treated?
Don’t eat gluten
What is a differential diagnosis of coeliacs?
Tropical sprue (enteropathy (small intestine inflammation) associated with tropical travel)
What is IBS?
Functional disorder whereby the gut and nervous system don’t communicate effectively
What is a functional disorder?
No identifiable organic disease underlying the symtpoms
What has IBS been associated with?
Stress + anxiety
How can IBS present as (3 types)?
- Constipation (IBS-C)
- Diarrhoea (IBS-D)
- Mixed (IBS-M)
What are the symptoms of IBS?
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Change in stool form and frequency
- Mucous in stool (blood is rare)
How is IBS diagnosed?
Diagnosis of exclusion (normal bloods, coeliac tests)
How is IBS treated?
- Lifestyle advice, reassurance (e.g. fibre for constipation)
- Laxatives for constipation; Antimotility drugs for diarrhoea
- TCAs, SSRIs (CBT if they don’t work)
Give an example of a laxative used for IBS?
Senna
Give an example of an antimotility drug used for IBS?
Loperamide
Give an example of a TCA for IBS?
Amitriptyline
Give an example of an SSRI for IBS?
Citalopram
What is gastro oesophageal reflux disease?
Reflux of gastric acid though the lower oesophageal sphincter irritating the lining of the oesophagus
What can cause GORD (4)?
- Obesity/ pregnancy
- Hiatal hernia (stomach bulges through abdomen)
- Drugs (e.g. antimuscarinics)
- Scleroderma (thickened/ hardened LOS)
What are the symptoms of GORD (3)?
- Heartburn (pain behind sternum)
- Cough (especially at night)
- Dysphagia (bad sign)
What position are the symptoms worst?
Lying on right hand side
How is GORD investigated?
- If no ‘red flags’ start treatment
- Otherwise refer for endoscopy
What are red flag symptoms for GORD (3)?
- Dysphagia
- Haematemesis (vomiting blood)
- Weight loss
How is GORD treated?
- Lifestyle changes (smaller meals, weight loss, no caffeine, alcohol)
- Medications
- Surgery
What medications are used in GORD (3)?
- PPIs
- Antacids (neutralise stomach acid)
- H2 receptor antagonists
What is an example of a PPI used for GORD (2)?
- Omeprazole
- Lansoprazole
What is an example of an antacid used for GORD?
Gaviscon
What is a side effect of antacids?
Diarrhoea
What is an example of a H2 receptor antagonist?
Ranitidine
Where are H2 receptors found in the stomach and what do they do?
On parietal cells (cause parietal cells to release gastric acid)
What cell releases histamine in the stomach?
Enterochromaffin like cells
What are 2 complications of GORD?
- Oesophageal strictures
- Barrets oesophagus
How are oesophageal strictures treated?
Endoscopic oesophageal dilation
What is Barrets oesophagus?
Change in oesophagus epithelium from stratified squamous to simple columnar (metaplasia)
What is the change in cells seen in Barrets oesophagus known as?
Metaplasia
What is dysplasia?
Morphological changes seen in cells in the progression to becoming cancer. The cells become more ‘jumbled up’
What is a Mallory Weiss tear?
Tear in mucosal layer of lower oesophagus
What causes a Mallory Weiss tear?
Sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure (due to coughing or vomiting)
What are some risk factors for Mallory Weiss tear (4)?
- Alcohol (makes you sick)
- Chronic cough
- Bulimia
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
Severe vomiting during pregnancy
What would a history of portal hypertension and liver disease suggest, rather than Mallory Weiss tears?
Oesophageal varices rupture
What are the symptoms of Mallory Weiss tear (3)?
- Haematemesis
- Pain in chest
- Hypotensive if severe
How is a Mallory Weiss tear diagnosed?
Endoscopy
What score is used to determine the severity of an upper GI bleed?
Rockall score
How is Mallory Weiss tear treated?
Most spontaneously heal in 24 hours
What are the two main types of peptic ulcer?
- Gastric ulcer
- Duodenal ulcer
Which type of peptic ulcer is most common?
Duodenal ulcers
What is a peptic ulcer?
A gap in the mucosal lining of the stomach or small intestine that allows acid and digestive enzymes to contact the inner layers
Which type of peptic ulcer is most common?
Duodenal ulcer
Which part of the duodenum is most commonly affected by ulcers?
D1/D2 posterior wall
Which part of the stomach is most commonly affected by ulcers?
Lesser curve
What are the causes of peptic ulcers (3)?
- H-pylori
- NSAIDs
- Zollinger Ellison syndrome
What is Zollinger Ellison Syndrome?
Gastrinoma (gastrin secreting tumour), most commonly occurs in the stomach, duodenum or pancreas
Which of those 3 causes is most common in duodenal ulcers?
H-pylori
What are the symptoms general symptoms of a peptic ulcer (4)?
- Dyspepsia
- N+V
- Abdominal pain
- Haematemesis
What are the specific symptoms of a gastric ulcer (2)?
- Worse on eating
- Weight loss (?maybe because they don’t want to eat?)
What are the specific symptoms of a duodenal ulcer (2)?
- Improves on eating
- Weight gain (?maybe they want to eat to take the pain away?)