GI Flashcards
What is the pathogenesis of GORD ?
- Weakened oesophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid into oesophagus
- stomach over producing acid, overflow more likely
How common is GORD?
80% of population
What are the lifestyle risk factors for GORD ?
- obesity
- pregnancy
- diet: fat, choc, caffeine, alcohol, large meals
- smoking
What drugs can increase risk of GORD ?
Anti muscarinics
Calcium channel blockers
Nitrates
When should GORD be investigated further/red flags
- Dysphagia
- > 55yrs
- > 4 weeks persistent symptoms despite treatment
What is first line drug treatment for GORD ?
PPI - omeprazole 20 mg daily
Second line drug treatment for GORD
H2 receptor antagonist e.g. Ranitidine
First line treatment for H Pylori eradication ?
7 day, twice daily course:
PPI and
Amoxicillin and
Clarithromycin OR metronidazole (dependant on previous exposure)
If allergic to penicillin give
PPI, clarithromycin and metronidazole
Name 5 complications of GORD
BOROH:
- Barrett oesophagus
- Oesophageal carcinoma
- Reflux oesophagitis
- Oesophageal ulceration
- Hernia
What is the pathological change in barrett’s oesophagus ?
Epithelium metaplasia: squamous > columnar
What percentage of the population are affected by peptic ulcers ?
10-15%
Which are more common, gastric or duodenal ulcers ?
Duodenal (2-3x more common)
Where do duodenal ulcers most commonly form ?
Duodenal cap
Where do gastric ulcers most commonly form ?
Lesser curvature of stomach (usually in the elderly)
What is the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers ?
Breakdown of superficial epithelial cells all the way down to the muscularis mucosa (fibrous base with inflammatory cells), with no mucous protection acid breaks down stomach/duodenal wall
What is the most common aetiology of peptic ulcers ?
H pylori
How does h pylori cause peptic ulcers ?
h pylori colonises the mucosa layer of gastric Antrum via adhesion to gastric mucosal cells and causes gastritis by release of toxins:
- CagA product is injected into epithelial cells via a pilus; changes cell morphology, replication and apoptosis
- VacA is a pore-forming protein which increases host cell permeability, inducing apoptosis
What are the risk factors for peptic ulcers ?
- H pylori
- smoking (impairs mucosal healing)
- history of reflux
- NSAIDs
- delayed gastric emptying/ increased gastric acid production
- blood group O (duodenal ulcers)
- stress (gastric ulcers)
Stress is a risk factor for which type of peptic ulcer ?
Gastric
Blood group O is a risk factor for which type of peptic ulcer ?
Duodenal
What is the initial treatment for peptic ulcers?
Offer full dose PPI or H2RA for 4-8 weeks
- stop NSAIDS
- H Pylori eradication
What are the ALARMS symptoms relating to peptic ulcers ?
A- Anorexia (early satiety) L- weight Loss A- Anaemia R- Recent onset of progressive symptoms M- Melena S- Swallowing difficulty
When to refer a peptic ulcer for urgent endoscopy ?
> 55yrs
+ ALARM symptoms (bleeding, early satiety etc)
Lifestyle changes for peptic ulcer disease
Raise head end of bed
Not eat <3hrs before going
Stop alcohol
A patient has burning epigastric pain that they can point to with a single finger. It is worse when they’re hungry (2-3hrs after last meal)What is the likely diagnosis of this presentation ?
Duodenal ulcer
- worse 2-3hrs after food as this is when stomach contents release in to duodenum
- gastric ulcer worse on eating*
Name the non-invasive tests for H Pylori
- serological tests: detect IgG antibodies; 90% sensitive, 83% specific
- 13c-urea breath test: quick, reliable, screening test; ingest 13c-urea which is broken down by urease
- stool antigen test: immunoassay mAb for qualitative detection of H Pylori
What are the invasive tests for h pylori
Endoscopy:
- biopsy urease test: gastric biopsies are added to a substrate containing urea and phenol red; if h pylori present, releases ammonia, causing colour to change from yellow to red
- culture
- histology: giemsa staining sections of gastric mucosa obtained at endoscopy
Rare endocrinopathy resulting in recurrent peptic ulcers ?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: gastric secreting tumours
What is a Cushing ulcer ?
Gastric ulcer caused by raised intracranial pressure stimulating vagus nerve to produce more acid (vagus nerve releases acetylcholine which stimulates m3 receptors on parietal cells and activates second messenger to stimulate hydrogen potassium pump, which will increase gastric acid production)
Complications if peptic ulcers
Haemorrhage
Perforation of ulcer
Malignancy
Gastric outflow obstruction
Which type of peptic ulcer is more likely to perforate ?
Duodenal
What are the 2 most common causes of acute lower GI bleed ?
Diverticula disease
Ischaemic colitis
Most common causes of upper GI bleed ?
Perforated gastric ulcers NSAIDs Alcohol - gastric varices Reflux oesophagitis Mallory-Weiss tears
What is the Glasgow-batchford score ?
Score stratifying upper GI bleeds into low and high risk based on:
- hb level
- BP
- sex
- HR
- Melena
- recent syncope
- hepatic disease history
- HF history
Zero is low risk, anything higher needs medical intervention
How are acute upper GI variceal bleeds treated ?
Terlipressin
Offer prophylactic antibiotics
Treatment for non variceal upper GI bleeds ?
Adrenaline and thermal coagulation
Which is more common, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis ?
Ulcerative colitis
Who does Crohn’s most often affect ?
Females
Immunocompromised
Hispanic, Asian, Jewish
Deep transluminal inflammation of whole GI tract is characteristic of which condition ?
Crohn’s
Cobblestone appearance, skip lesions and granulomas are characteristic in which IBD condition ?
Crohn’s
Is Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis more likely to cause strictures and fistulas ?
Crohn’s
Superficial inflammation confined to the mucosa over the rectum, colon, appendix and terminal ileum is characteristic of which IBD condition ?
UC
Goblet cells are depleted in which IBD condition ?
UC
Which IBD condition results in the presence of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria ?
UC
What is the biggest risk factor for IBD ?
Familial history of IBD
How does s,oping affect the risk of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis ?
Crohn’s - smoking increases risk
UC - smoking decreases risk
A presentation of history of diarrhoea with blood, RIF abdo pain and palpable mass with weight loss and anorexia is likely to be what ?
Chrohns disease
Is Crohn’s or UC more likely to have anal symptoms ?
Crohn’s
E.g. Oedematous anal tags, fissures, perinatal abscess
When is faecal calprotectin testing recommended ?
To support differential of IBS or IBD (+ve = IBD) when specialist investigation is being considered (if cancer not suspected)
Calprotectin is a substance that is released in excess in the intestines when inflammation is there
Which part of the GI tract is Crohn’s disease most likely to affect ?
Terminal ileum and proximal colon
What type of inflammation is found in Crohn’s disease ?
Focal, asymmetric, transmural and sometimes granulomatous inflammation
Which infectious agents have been linked with Crohn’s disease ?
- mycobacterium paratuberculosis
- pseudomonas spp
- listeria spp
What are the theories on causes of Crohn’s ?
- infectious agents
- increase in TNF-alpha
- high fat diet
- genetic mutation
Which inflammatory bowed disease presents with skip lesions ?
Crohn’s
What ages is Crohn’s disease most likely to present ?
15-30 then again at 60-80
What age is UC most likely to present ?
15-25
What are the extraintestinal manifestations of ulcerative colitis ?
- erythema nodosum
- aphthous ulcers
- epi scleritis
- acute arthropathy affecting the large joints
What are the extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease ?
- clubbing
- erythema nodosum
- large joint arthritis
- fatty liver
- osteomalacia
Which antibody can be tested for that is more common in Crohn’s than UC ?
Anti-S cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA)
Which antibodies can be tested for that are more common in UC than Crohn’s ?
Peri nuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA)
What initial investigations should be carried out for a suspected case of IBD ?
- FBC, U&Es, LFTs, ESR, CRP
- stool culture to rule out parasites and c diff.
- faecal calprotectin (rule out IBS)
- serological markers (e.g. p-ANCA) or ASCA)
- sigmoidoscopy / colonoscopy and biopsy to differentiate between macroscopic findings
Differential diagnoses in IBD
- Crohn’s vs UC
- Behçet’s disease
- coeliac
- diverticulitis
- Ischaemic colitis
Which drugs can precipitate paralytic ileus and mega colon in active colitis ?
Antimotility drugs:
- codeine
- loperamide
Antispasmodics
Complications of IBD ?
- toxic mega colon
- haemorrhage
- stricture & fistula (UC more common)
- large bowel carcinoma
- colorectal cancer
What drug is used to maintain remission in IBS ?
Mesalazine (aminosalicylate)
Which drugs induce remission in IBD ?
Corticosteroids
What percentage of the population is affected by IBS ?
10-20%
Who is IBS most likely to occur in ?
Women
Ages 20-30
What is the pathogenesis of IBS ?
No detectable organic cause
- due to biopsychosocial interactions causing dysregukation of brain-gut function
- abnormal central processing of painful stimuli
- associated with increased psychological distress and poor coping strategies
What are the risk factors for IBS ?
- affective disorders e.g. Anxiety, depression
- psychological stress and trauma, life events
- GI Infection
- Antibiotic therapy
- sexual, physical or verbal abuse
- female
- eating disorders
What conditions does IBS often coexist with ?
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- fibromyalgia
- TMJ joint dysfunction
What are the non-GI features of IBS ?
- gynae: dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, premenstral tension
- urinary: frequency, urgency, nocturia, incomplete emptying
- ## other: back pain, headaches, bad breath, poor sleeping, fatigue
Classic presentation of IBS ?
- improvement of abdo pain in defecation
- onset of pain associated with change in frequency of stool
- onset of pain associated with a change in appearance of stools
What are the non pharmacological treatments for IBS
- probiotics
- eradicate dietary triggers
- high fibre diet and fibre supplements
- psychotherapy, CBT
What investigations should be carried out to rule out other conditions if IBS suspected ?.
- upper GI endoscopy (dyspepsia, reflux)
- duodenal biopsy (coeliac)
- giardia test
- ## ERCP (chronic pancreatitis)
Pharmacological treatment for IBS ?
- loperamide for diarrhoea
- mebeverine antispasmodic for colic/bloating
What are the risk factors for infective gastroenteritis ?
- poor hygiene/lack of sanitation
- immunocompromised
- food hygiene/undercooked
By what mechanism does E. coli. Cause gastroenteritis ?
Mucosal adherence- adhere to receptors in the gut allowing entry of a subunit in to cell which activates adenylyl cyclase which increases amount of cAMP and results in intense and prolonged hyper secretion of chlorides and water while inhibiting reabsorption of sodium
- gut contains large amount of fluid leading to diarrhoea
Bloody diarrhoea in gastroenteritis would be suspicious if what causative organism ?
Bacterial, particularly E. coli , salmonella and shigella if from exotic location
What is the most common causative organism of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the UK ?
Rotavirus, norovirus (winter)
What is the incubation period of viruses causing gastroenteritis ?
1 day
What is the incubation period for bacillary dysentery ?
Few hours to 4 days
What is the main risk to health in adult gastroenteritis ?
Dehydration
What are the signs of mild dehydration ?
Lassitude, anorexia, nausea, light headedness, postural hypotension
Features of moderate dehydration ?
- Apathy
- tiredness
- dizziness
- muscle cramps
- dry tongue
- sunken eyes
- reduce skin elasticity
- tachycardia
- oliguria
Features of severe dehydration?
- profound apathy
- weakness
- confusion
- shock
- tachycardia
- peripheral vasoconstriction
- BP systolic
When should a stool sample be sent off in an adult with gastroenteritis ?.
- blood/mucous in stool *
- immunocompromised *
- exotic travel
- not improved by day 7
- uncertain diagnosis
What blood tests should be sent for in an unwell patient with gastroenteritis ?
FBC, U&Es
Differential diagnoses in a patient with suspected gastroenteritis
- travellers diarrhoea
- UTI
- constipation overflow
- IBS
- Addison’s disease
Complications of gastroenteritis
- haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) (haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and AKI)
- systemic invasion e.g. Salmonella
- toxic mega colon
- Guillain-Barré syndrome - CMV, campylobacter jejuni
- IBS