GI Flashcards
What is GERD?
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease;
is a condition in which acid reflux, the back flow of stomach contents into the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach), causes distress and/or complications.
What are the 3 classifications of GERD and its characteristics?
1) Non erosive reflux disease (NERD):
- most benign
- may be associated with belching, discomfort
2) Tissue-injury based GERD:
- esophagitis, more typically distal esophagus
- Barrett’s esophagus: lining of esophagus is changed to resemble that of the colon, typically greater association with cancer of esophagus
3) Extra-oesophageal reflux syndromes:
- Asthma
- Chronic cough etc.
What are some of the risk factors for GERD?
- Family history
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Certain Medications and foods
- Respiratory diseases
- Reflux chest pain syndrome
- Obesity
List foods that may worsen GERD symptoms by reducing lower esophageal sphincter pressure
- Fatty meal
- Mint: peppermint, spearmint
- Chocolate
- Coffee, cola, tea
- Garlic
- Onions
- Chili peppers
- Alcohol
List foods that are direct irritants to the esophageal mucosa (SCOTT)
- Spicy foods
- Orange juice
- Tomato juice
- Coffee
- Tobacco
Give examples of medications that may worsen GERD symptoms by reducing lower esophageal sphincter pressure
- Anticholinergics
- Barbiturates
- Caffeine
- Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers e.g. nifedipine, amlodipine
- Dopamine
- Estrogen
- Nicotine
- Progesterone
- Nitrates
- Tetracycline
- Theophylline
Give examples of medications that are direct irritants to the esophageal muscosa
- Aspirin
- Bisphosphonates
- NSAIDs
- Iron
- Quinidine
- Potassium chloride
What is the pathophysiology of GERD?
Relaxation of lower esophagus, torn lower esophageal sphincter, increase in pressure of stomach, delayed gastric emptying could be involved in the pathophysiology.
Food that reduces lower esophageal pressure/ medicines can worsen GERD
What are the typical clinical presentation of symptom-based GERD?
Symptoms may be aggravated by activities that worsen the gastroesophageal reflux such as lying position, bending over, or eating a meal high in fat:
- Heartburn (hallmark symptom; substernal sensation of warming or burning rising up from the abdomen that may radiate to the neck; may be waxing and waning in character)
- Regurgitation/ belching
- Reflux chest pain (may be mistaken with MI; MI generally associated with pain down the left side of the body)
What are some of the alarm symptoms which may indicate complications of GERD? e.g. Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal strictures, esophageal adenocarcinoma
- Dysphagia (common); difficulty in swallowing
- Odynophagia; pain in swallowing
- Bleeding; may be assoc/w cancer
- Weight loss
What are the clinical presentations of tissue injury-based GERD syndrome?
- Esophagitis
- Strictures (closing of esophagus due to inflammation)
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Note: symptoms may present with alarm symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia, or unexplained weight loss
What are some of the clinical presentations of extraesophageal GERD syndromes?
- Chronic cough
- Asthma (~50% with asthma have GERD)
- Laryngitis
- Wheezing
Note: these symptoms have an assoc/w GERD, but causality should only be considered if a concomitant esophageal GERD syndrome is also present
List the non-pharmacological treatments of GERD
- Elevate the head end of the bed
- Weight reduction (esp. obese)
- Avoid food that may reduce LES pressure or increase transient LES relaxation
- Include protein-rich meals in diet (augments LES pressure)
- Avoid food that have direct irritant effect on esophageal mucosa
- Eat small meals and avoid sleeping immediately after meals (sleep after 3h if possible)
- Stop smoking (decreases spontaneous esophageal sphincter relaxation)
- Avoid alcohol (increases peristaltic waves, frequency of contraction)
- Avoid tight-fitting clothes
- Always take medications in the sitting upright or standing position and with plenty of fluid, especially for those with direct irritant effects
Therapies to be considered for mild, infrequent, episodic heartburns (can be self-treated); describe the steps to be taken next based on response to therapy
- Lifestyle/dietary modifications
- Antacid or
- Alginic acid/ antacid or
- OTC low dose H2RA or
- OTC H2RA/ antacid
Responds to treatment: continue non-pharm, may repeat treatment up to 2 weeks if symptoms recur
If do not respond to treatment, consider different agent or tx with OTC omeprazole or medical management
Therapies to be considered for moderate, infrequent, episodic heartburns (can be self-treated); describe the steps to be taken next based on response to therapy
- Lifestyle/dietary modifications
- Antacid or
- Alginic acid/ antacid or
- OTC higher dose H2RA
Responds to treatment: continue non-pharm, may repeat treatment up to 2 weeks if symptoms recur
If do not respond to treatment, consider different agent or tx with OTC omeprazole or medical management
Therapies to be considered for frequent heartburns 2 or more days per week (can be self-treated); describe the steps to be taken next based on response to therapy
- Lifestyle/dietary modifications and
- OTC omeprazole 20mg/day x 14 days
Heartburn resolves after 2 weeks: stop omeprazole, may repeat regimen every 4 months if needed
Heartburn does not resolve after 2 weeks: medical management
When does GERD needs to be referred to the doctor?
1) Duration/ frequency:
- Symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks despite self treatment
- Frequent heartburn for over 3 months
- Take more than one course of PPI treatment every four months
2) Symptoms:
- Heartburn while taking recommended dosages of nonprescription H2RA or PPI
- Heartburn and dyspepsia that occur when taking prescription H2RA or PPI
- Severe heartburn & dyspepsia
- Nocturnal heartburn
- Difficulty/ pain on swallowing solid foods
- Vomiting up blood or black material or black tarry stools
- Chronic hoarseness, wheezing, coughing, or choking
- Unexplained weight loss
- Continuous n/v/d
- Chest pain accompanied by sweating, pain radiating to shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw, and SOB
3) Patient demographic:
- Pregnant
- Nursing mothers
- Children younger than 12 years (for antacids, H2RA) or younger than 18 years (for omeprazole)
- Are over 40 y/o and experiencing GERD symptoms for the first time
What is the typical recommended 1st-choice for pregnant women?
Alginic acid (gaviscon); forms a raft on top of the stomach, prevent reflux of contents. Has no systemic absorption
Which type(s) of antacids causes constiptation?
Aluminum and calcium
Which type of antacid causes diarrhea?
Magnesium
What is the minimum age for antacids?
> 12 years; children < 12 with GERD is a cause for concern
Which type(s) of antacids has drug interactions? List some examples of the agents that it has interactions with
Calcium, magnesium, aluminum
Agents: Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, imidazoles, phenytoin, bisphosphonates, penicillamine
Which antacid(s) require caution to be taken care of in patients with heart disease?
Sodium and alginates
* sodium load in preparations contributes to BP
Can antacids be given in pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Yes
When should antacids be taken
After food
What is the minimum age for PPIs?
18 years
Which H2RA has a higher association with drug interactions?
Cimetidine- inhibits CYP450 (2D6, 1A2), incr. plasma conc of anti-depressants, warfarin, theophylline, paracetamol, caffeine
What are the long-term adverse effects of PPIs?
- Osteoporosis/bone fractures: common with high dose and long term use for 1 year and longer
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: PPIs may inhibit secretion of intrinsic factor, not common, usually assoc/w use for 3 years and longer
- Hypomagnesemia: observed as soon as 3 months after starting therapy; more likely in those on PPIs for 1 year or greater
PPIs may cause an increased risk of _?
community acquired pneumonia; particularly within first 30 days of therapy
What are some adjunctive agents that may be given in GERD?
Promotility agents e.g. metoclopramide, domperidone
- increases peristaltic activity
- effective in combination, especially with bloating etc.
- on their own, not hugely effective
How do antacids work?
Neutralize gastric acid
MOA of H2RA
Competitively, reversibly blocks histamine stimulation of gastric acid secretion by reducing cAMP, reducing protein kinase stimulation on proton pump (H+K+ ATPase), hence reducing gastric acid (H+) secretion into the lumen
When should H2RA be taken?
At night- can achieve 90% inhibition as it is highly effective in inhibiting fasting and nocturnal secretion (histamine dependent)
Less effective for meal-stimulated acid secretion as this process is gastrin + ACh + Hist dependent. (60-80% inhibition)
What are some SE of H2RA?
Constipation or diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, somnolence
Rare: agitation
Cimetidine:
- headaches, mental confusion in elderly, bowel movement disturbances
- Rare: impotence, gynecomastia, blood dyscrasias
What is the MOA of PPIs?
Protonated drug undergoes molecular conversion to active thiophilic sulfonamide cation in acidic canaliculi of parietal cell
Blocks proton pump (H+ K+ ATPase), which is the final step in gastric acid secretion- antagonizes all stimulants of gastric secretion