GI Flashcards
Causes GORD
Obesity
Hiatus hernia (bc LOS sphincter can’t close properly)
LOS HTN
Loss of oesophageal peristaltic function
↑ Abdo pressure = pregnancy
Overeating
Systemic sclerosis
Signs / Symptoms GORD
Heartburn - burning chest pain
Odynophagia
Hoarse throat
Wheezing
Acidic taste
Waterbrash
Regurgitation
Nocturnal asthma
Chronic cough
Laryngitis
Sinusitis
DDx GORD
Coronary artery disease
Biliary colic
Peptic ulcer
Malignancy
Ix GORD
Usually just diagnosed w clinical findings (as long as there’s no red flags)
Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy - can show oesophagitis & hiatus hernia
24 hour intraluminal pH monitoring
Tx GORD
Lifestyle changes - stop smoking, lose weight, small regular meals
Antacids e.g. Gaviscon
PPI e.g. omeprazole, lansoprazole
H2 receptor antagonists e.g. cimetidine, rainitide
How do H2 receptor antagonists work to treat GORD?
Blocks histamine receptors on parietal cells
∴ ↓acid release
How does PPI work to treat GORD?
Inhibits gastric hydrogen release
∴ prevents production of gastric acid
Complications GORD
Barret’s Oesophagus
Peptic stricture
What is Barret’s Oesophagus?
When oesophageal epitheliu undergoes metaplasia
SQUAMOUS -> COLUMNAR w/ goblet cells
Risk of progression to oesophageal cancer
(premalignant for adenocariconoma)
What is a Peptic stricture?
Inflammation of oesophagus (bc gastric acid exposure)
∴ narrowing + stricture of oesophagus
What is a peptic ulcer?
Break in the epithelial cells which penetrate down to muscularis mucosa
Happens in stomach OR duodenum
What people are peptic ulcers more common in?
Elderly
Developing countries
State some easy ways to differentiate between symptoms of a peptic ulcer in the STOMACH and one in the DUODENUM
Duodenal ulcer - relieved by eating, MC
Gastric ulcer - worsened by eating, assoc w/ NSAIDs/aspril
Causes Peptic ulcers
H. Pylori - MC
NSAIDs
Mucosal Ischaemia
↑ Acid
Bile reflux
Alcohol
Describe the mechanism for H.Pylori causing Peptic ulcers
H.Pylori lives in gastric mucus
Secretes urease, catalyst for :
Urea -> CO2 + ammonia
Then, Ammonia + H+ -> ammonium
Ammonium (+ proteases, phospholipidases etc) damages gastric epithelium
∴ inflam response
∴ ↓ mucosal defence
∴ Mucosal damage
–
ALSO, causes ↑acid secretion :
Gastrin release (from G cells)
Histamine release
↑Parietal cell mass
↓Somatostatin
Describe the mechanism for NSAIDs causing Peptic ulcers
Prostaglandins stimulate mucus secretion & COX-1 is needed for prostaglandin stimulation
BUT NSAIDs inhibit COX-1
∴ mucus isn’t secreted
∴ ↓mucosal defence
∴ ↓mucosal damage
Describe the mechanism for mucosal ischaemia causing Peptic ulcers
Stomach cells not supplied w enough blood
∴ cells die off
∴ don’t produce mucin
Gastric acid attacks those cells & they die
∴ ulcer forms
Describe the mechanism for increased acid causing Peptic ulcers
↑↑ Acid overwhelms the mucosal defence and attacks mucosal cells
Cells die and ulcer forms !
Stress can also increase acid production
Signs / Symptoms Peptic ulcers
Sometimes asymptomatic
Burning epigastric pain!
Tender epigastrum
Bloating
N+V
Haematemesis/Melaena
Dyspepsia
Dysphagia
Flatulence
Anorexia
Heart burn (retrosternal)
–
Gastric - pain occurs when Px is hungry or eating. Usually occurs at night
Presents w weight loss
Duodenal - pain occurs several hours after meals, relieved by eating
Presents w weight gain
RED FLAGS FOR CANCER
UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT LOSS
ANAEMIA
EVIDENCE OF GI BLEEDING
DYSPHAGIA
UPPER ABDO MASS
PERSISTENT VOMITING
Ix Peptic ulcers
GS - Endoscopy w biopsy!
Stool antigen test & Urea breath test- for H.Pylori
stop PPI/Abx for at least 2/4 weeks before test
Autoimmune - low B12, parietal cell antibodies, IF antibodies
Blood test for IgG antibodies (can be pos for a year after tx)
Tx Peptic ulcers
Lifestyle changes - ↓Alcohol, ↓tobacco
Treat H.Pylori - CAP (clarithromycin, amoxicillin, PPI)!!
H2 antagonists - cimetidine
Surgery if comps
Comps Peptic ulcers
GASTRITIS
Duodenal ulcers can keep growing until reaches artery (gastroduodenal artery) and cause massive haemorrhage
Obstruction
Peritonitis - acid enter peritoneum
Acute pancreatitis - if ulcer reaches pancreas
What is Gastritis?
Inflam of stomach lining
Assoc w mucosal injury
Causes Gastritis
H.Pylori
Peptic ulcer - can develop into gastritis if happens regularly
Autoimmune gastritis
Viruses - CMV, HSV
Duodenogastric reflux
Crohn’s disease
Mucosal ischaemia
↑Acid
Aspirin and NSAIDs
Alcohol
How does autoimmune gastritis cause gastritis?
Autoimmune gastritis affects fundus and body of stomach
∴ Atrophic gastritis and ↓ parietal cells with IF def = pernicious anaemia
Signs / Symptoms Gastritis
Epigastric pain
N+V
Recurrent upset stomach
Indigestion
Loss of appetite
Abdo bloating
Haematemesis
Anaemia
DDx Gastritis
Peptic ulcer
GORD
Gastric lymphoma
Gastric carcinoma
Ix Gastritis
Upper GI endoscopy
Biopsy and histology
H.Pylori urea breath & stool antigen tests
Bloods - anaemia
Faecal occult blood tests
Tx Gastritis
CAP - clarithromycin, amoxicillin, PPI (omeprazole)
H2 antagonists - ranitidine, cimetidine
Prevention Gastritis
Give PPIs alongside NSAIDs
also prevents bleeding from acute stress ulcers and gastritis (seen in px esp burn patients)
Histology Coeliac disease
Villous atrophy
Crypt hyperplasia
When does Coeliac disease usually present?
In infancy OR 40s - 60s
Why is prevalence of coeliac disease increasing?
Changes in endoscopic techniques
Antibody screening
↑Awareness of spectrum of presentation of coeliac disease
Describe the Marsh Classification
0 normal
1 raised intra epithelial lymphocytes (IEL)
2 raised ILE + crypt hyperplasia
3a partial villous atrophy (PVA)
3b subtotal villous atrophy (SVA)
3c total villous atrophy (TVA)
Where is gluten found?
Wheat
Barley
Rye
Pathophysiology Coeliac disease
TYPE 4 HS REACTION
Gluten breaks down to a-gliadin, triggers immune response to produce Abs - anti-TTG and anti-EMA
These target epithelial cells of small intestine causing :
- Villous Atrophy
- Crypt hyperplasia
- Intra-epithelial lymphocytes
Antibodies in Coeliac Disease
Anti-TTG - Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase
Anti-EMA - Anti-Endomysial
RF Coeliac Disease
Other autoimmune diseases
IgA def
Breast-feeding
Age of gluten introduction into diet
Rotavirus infection in infancy ↑risk
H.Pylori
Signs / Symptoms Coeliac disease
CLASSICAL :
Diarrhoea
Steatorrhoea
Abdo pain
Abdo distention
Weight loss
Failure to thrive
Nutritional def
–
NON-CLASSICAL :
Dermatitis herpetiformis
IBS symptoms
Iron def anaemia
Osteoporosis
Chronic fatigue
Ataxia
Periph neuropathy
Hyposplenism
Amenorrhoea
Infertility
Ix Coeliac disease
SEROLOGY
1st Line - Anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG)
2nd Line - Anti-endomysial antibody (EMA)
Anti-gliadin
GS!! Endoscopy w/ duodenal biopsy -
VILLOUS ATROPHY
Crypt Hyperplasia
Intra-epithelial lymphocytes
FBC - ↓Hb, ↓B12, ↓ferritin
Autoimmune condition screening - DMT1 etc
Tx Coeliac disease
Gluten free diet - strict, lifelong
No barley, wheat, rye
Dietician review - correct vit defs
DEXA scan - osteoporosis risk
Comps Coeliac disease
T-cell lymphoma
Osteoporosis
Anaemia
Infertility
Hyposplenism
Vit D def - steatorrhoea, night blindness, bruising etc
Types of IBD
Crohn’s
UC
Who does Crohn’s most likely affect?
F
20 - 40 years
Northern Europe, UK and North American countries
RF Crohn’s
FHx - Mutation on NOD2 gene (chromosome 16)
Smoking
Female
Chronic stress
NSAIDs
Crohn’s : CHRISTMAS
Cobblestones
High temp
Reduced lumen
Intestinal fistulae
Skip lesions
Transmural
Malabsorption
Abdo pain
Submucosal fibrosis
Signs / Symptom Crohn’s
RLQ abdo pain (ileum)
Diarrhoea
N+V
Fatigue
Fever
Tenderness
Haematochezia, Meleana
Mouth ulcers
Extra-Intestinal features :
Erythema nodosum
Anal fissures/strictures
Episcleritis
Clubbing, skin, joint & eye problems
Comps Crohn’s
Small bowel obstruction
Toxic dilation
Abscess formation
Fistulae
Malnutrition
Perforation
Anal - skin tags, fissure, fistula
Neoplasia - colorectal cancer
Amyloidosis - rare
DDx Crohn’s
Chronic diarrhoea
Ix Crohn’s
GS!! Colonoscopy & biopsy
Barium enema
Should always rule out other causes of diarrhoea (Salmonella spp., Giardia intestinalis, rotavirus) - Stool sample
FBC - ↑ESR/CRP, ↓Hb, neg p-ANCA
Malabsorption - ferritin, B12, folate
Faecal calprotein aka FIT test - indicates IBD, not spec
Tx Crohn’s
1 - Oral corticosteroids - budesonide, prednisolone
If severe, IV hydrocortisone (severe flare ups)
2a - + 5-ASA (azathioprine)
b. Methotrexate
3 - Anti-TNF antibodies - infliximab
4 - Surgery
–
DISEASE IS NOT CURATIVE
–
To maintain remission! Azathioprine or Methotrexate
What part of the body does Crohn’s affect?
Affects any part of gut from mouth to anus - ileum and colon esp
Originates in mucosa and works through layers of the bowel
Describe macroscopic features of Crohn’s
Skip lesions
Cobblestone appearance (due to ulcers and fissures in mucosa)
Thickened & narrow
Describe microscopic features of Crohn’s
Transmural - affects all layers of the bowel
Non-caseating granulomas
Goblet cells
What are non-caseating granulomas?
Aggregations of epithelioid histiocytes
RF UC
FHx
NSAIDs - assoc/ w onset and flares of IBD
Chronic stress, depression triggers flares
What rogue thing can relieve UC?
Smoking
Describe some macroscopic features of UC
Continuous inflam (no skip lesions)
Ulcers
Pseudo-polyps
Describe some microscopic features of UC
Mucosal inflam
No granulomata
Depleted goblets cells
Increase crypt abscesses
What area of the body does UC affect?
Remains in mucosa (doesn’t go through full wall of bowel)
Only affects colon
NEVER goes past the ileocaecal valve
Who might UC be found in?
Affects males and females equally
Presents between 15 - 30
Northern Europe, UK and N. America
Signs / Symptoms UC
LLQ abdo pain
Fever
Diarrhoea w blood and mucus
Cramps
Rectal tenesmus - incontinence, urgency, bleeding
Tender, distended abdo
Clubbing
Erythema nodosum
UC : ULCERATION
Ulcers
Large intestine
Carcinoma - risk of
Extra-intestinal manifestations
Remnants of older ulcers - psuedo polyps
Abscesses in crypts
Toxic megacolon - risk of
Inflamed, red, granular mucosa
Originates at rectum
Neutrophil invasion
Stool is bloody and has mucous
Ix UC
GS!! Colonoscopy & biopsy (crypt abscesses, goblet cell depletion)
also, allows to assess disease extent
Barium enema
Bloods - FBC (↑ESR,↑CRP, ↓Hb)
p-ANCA might be pos (deff neg in Crohn’s so can differentiate)
Faecal calprotein
Stool sample - to rule out other causes of diarrhoea (Salmonella etc)
CT/MRI
Abdo XR - useful if UC is too severe for colonoscopy, can be used to exclude colonic dilation
Extra-Intestinal Manifestations of UC
A PIE SAC
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Iritis - ant. uvieitis
Erythema nodosum
Sclerosing cholangitis
Apthous ulcers / Amyloidosis
Clubbing
What should you avoid with Crohn’s?
NSAIDs
Tx UC
Aminosalicylate (5-ASA)
e.g. Sulfasalazine, Mesalazine
MILD
1. 5-ASA
2. + steroid (prednisolone)
MOD/SEVERE
1. Fluid/resus if necessary
2. IV steroid (hydrocortisone)
3. + TNF-i (infliximab)
GS!! COLECTOMY
To maintain remission - azathioprine
Where is 5-ASA absorbed?
Small intestine
Comps UC
Liver - fatty change, chronic pericholangitis, sclerosing cholangitis
Colon - blood loss, toxic dilation, colorectal cancer
Skin - erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
Joints - Ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis
Eyes - Iritis, uveitis, episcleritis
Define diarrhoea
Abnormal passage of loose or liquid stool more than 3 times daily
Define acute diarrhoea
Lasts less than 2 weeks
Define chronic diarrhoea
Lasts more than 2 weeks
Viral causes of diarrhoea
Most cases are caused by viruses
e.g.
Rotavirus - children
Norovirus - adults
Bacterial causes of diarrhoea
Campylobacter
Shigella
Salmonella
C.perfringens
S.aureus
B.cereus
E.coli
C.diff
Parasites (e.g. giardia, crypto)
Antibiotic causes of Diarrhoea??
Some abx can give rise to C.Diff diarrhoea
RULE OF Cs
Clindamycin
Ciprofloxacin
Co-amoxiclav
Cephalosporins (esp 2nd + 3rd gen)
Infective causes of diarrhoea
Intraluminal infection
Systemic infections e.g. sepsis, malaria
Non-infective causes of diarrhoea
Cancer
Chemical e∴g poisoning, sweeteners, s/e
IBS/Malabsorption
Endo e.g. T4
Radiation
Mechanism for watery diarrhoea
Non-Inflam
Enterotoxin or superficial adherence/invasion
Mechanism for bloody, mucoid diarrhoea
Inflam!
Location of watery diarrhoea
Proximal small bowel
Location of bloody, mucoid diarrhoea
Colon
Bacterial causes of watery diarrhoea
Vibrio cholerae
E.Coli
Clostridium perfringes
Bacillus cereus
S. Aureus
Bacterial causes for bloody, mucoid diarrhoea
Shigella
E.Coli
Salmonella enteridis
C.parahaemolyticus
C.diff
C.jejuni
Viral causes of watery diarrhoea
Rotavirus
Norovirus
Viral causes of bloody, mucoid diarrhoea
N/A
Parasitic causes of watery diarrheoa
Giardia
Cryptosporidium
Parasitic causes of bloody, mucoid diarrhoea
Entamoeba histolytica
History Diarrhoea
HISTORY IS KEY!
> Onset/duration
Acute - viral/bacterial
Chronic - parasites and non-infectious
> FHx
> Stool characteristics
Floating - fat content, malabsorption/coeliac
Blood/mucus - inflam, cancer
Watery - small bowel infection
> Food/drink
Dodgy takeaway - food poisoning
Meat/BBQs - campylobacter
Poultry - salmonella
> Travel
No cholera in UK
Foreign travel?
V common
> Immunocomp?
HIV, chemo, transplant etc
> Unwell contacts
> Fresh water/swimming - giardia, crypto
> Animals
Reptiles - salmonella
Puppies - campylobacter
> Medications? Abx??
> Neuro signs?
Clostridium botunilum - ascending weakness
C.jejnuni - guillain-barre
Ix Diarrhoea
HISTORY
Stool tests - culture, faecal calprotein, occult blood, microscopy, cysts, parasites etc
Bloods - FBC, inflam markers (CRP etc), blood culture
What is the 1st and 2nd leading causes of death in children globally?
1st - Pneumonia
2md - Infective diarrhoea
Where does infective diarrhoea have the highest prevalence?
S.Asia
S.Africa
DDx Infective diarrhoea
Appendicitis
IBD
UTI
Coeliac disease
Volvulus
RF Infective diarrhoea
Foreign travel
PPI or H2 antagonist use
Crowded use
Poor hygiene
Causes infective diarrhoea
*Enterotoxigenic E.Coli - MC
Campylobacter
Shigella
Viral
Non-typhoidal salmonella
V.parahaemolyticus - shellfish!
Cholera - vibrio cholerae
Parasites - protozoal (crypto, giardia, entamoeba)
Worms - schistosomiasis, strongyloides
C.DIff
Ix Infective diarrhoea
3 or more unformed stools per day + one of the following :
Abdo pain
Cramps
N / V
Dysentry
–
Blood - suggests bacteria
Stool sample
If chronic, sigmoidoscopy
What bacteria cause bloody stools
E.Coli and shigella ALL cause bloody stools
Tx Infective diarrhoea
Rehydration
Fluids + electrolytes - monitoring and replacement
ABx - metronidazole or oral vancomycin
Barrier nursing - side room, gloves, apron
Anti-emetics - treat vomiting w/ metoclopramide
Anti-motility agents - BUT NEVER IN INFLAM DIARRHOEA