GI & Rheuma/Immuno Flashcards
Most common causes of indigestion (2)
GERD
Functional dyspepsia
Next best step after diagnosing GERD?
Start PPI (typical GERD does not need further work up)
Most severe histologic consequence of GERD and a major risk factor for adenocarcinoma
Barrett’s epithelium
When is upper endoscopy the recommended INITIAL TEST in GERD?
- In unexplained dyspepsia in >55 years old
- (+) alarm factors: dysphagia, weight loss, anemia, bleeding
*R/O malignancy
Classic symptoms of GERD
- Water brash
- Substernal heartburn
Most sensitive test for diagnosis of GERD
24-h ambulatory pH monitoring
Gold standard for confirmation of Barret’s esophagus
Endoscopic biopsy
Useful initial diagnostic test when mechanical obstruction of esophagus is suspected
Endoscopy
Most common esophageal symptom of GERD
Heartburn/pyrosis
Most common cause of esophageal chest pain
GERD
Characteristic symptom of infectious esophagitis
Odynophagia
Most common cause of acute diarrhea
> 90% are infectious
Most common noninfectious cause of acute diarrhea
side effect of medications
Major cause of death in acute diarrhea
dehydration
When to give antimotility/antisecretory agents in diarrhea?
Moderate/severe nonfebrile and nonbloody diarrhea
Complications of PUD
- Bleeding
- Perforation
- Gastric outlet obstruction
First line treatment for H. pylori
- Triple Therapy (“OCA”): Omeprazole + Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin
- Quadruple (“TOMB”): Tetracycline + Omeprazole + Metronidazole + Bismuth
Has a central role in gastric epithelial defense/repair
Prostaglandin
Key enzyme that controls the rate-limiting step in prostaglandin synthesis
Cyclooxygenase
Duodenal ulcers occur most often in which part of the duodenum?
1st part of duodenum (>95%)
2 predominant causes of PUD
- NSAID ingestion
- H. pylori
Benign gastric ulcers are most commonly found where?
distal to the junction of the antrum and the acid-secreting mucosa
Most discriminating symptom in duodenal ulcer
pain that wakens the patient from sleep (between 12AM to 3AM)
Most frequent finding in gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer
epigastric tenderness
Mainstay of PUD treatment (goals of treatment)
- eradication of H. pylori
- prevention of NSAID-induced disease
Most potent acid inhibitory agents available
protom pump (H+,K+-ATP-ase) inhibitors
Upon diagnosing a case of acute pancreatitis, what is the next best step to confirm this diagnosis?
serum lipase
Best diagnostic work-up for abdominal ecchymosis?
abdominal CT scan with IV contrast
Cardinal symptom of pancreatitis
Abdominal pain, often in upper abdomen, with radiation to the back
Leading cause of acute pancreatitis
Gallstone
2nd most common cause of acute pancreatitis
Alcohol
Periumbilical ecchymosis
Cullen’s sign
Flank ecchymosis
Grey Turner’s sign
Criteria for diagnosing acute pancreatitis
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is established by 2 out of 3 of the ff:
- typical abdominal pain in the epigastrium that may radiate to the back
- three-fold or greater elevation in the serum lipase and/or amylase
- confirmatory findings of acute pancreatitis on cross-sectional abdominal imaging
Why is serum lipase a more reliable marker for pancreatitis than serum amylase?
Lipase is more specific to pancreas and remains elevated longer
Early vs late pancreatitis
Early: <2 weeks
Late: >2 weeks
Mild vs moderate vs severe pancreatitis
Mild: no organ failure
Moderate: transient (<48h) organ failure
Severe: persistent (>48h) organ failure
Most common cause of death in acute pancreatitis
Hypovolemic shock
Most important intervention in acute pancreatitis
Safe, aggressive IV resuscitation
Supportive managment for acute pancreatitis
- NPO (bowel rest)
- IV fluids (to avoid hemoconcentration)
- Pain control (Meperidine)
Level of hypertriglyceridemia that may cause pancreatitis
> 1000 mg/dl
Charcot’s triad of cholangitis
“FPJ”:
- fever
- pain
- jaundice
Management for gallstone pancreatitis
ERCP within 24-48 hours (for those with evidence of ascending cholangitis)
Melena indicates blood present in GIT for how long?
at least 14 hours and as long as 3-5 days
Most common cause of UGIB
Peptic ulcers
Others: variceal bleed, Mallory-Weiss tear
Most common cause of LGIB
Hemorrhoids
Others: Diverticular disease, colonic mass, angioectasia, colitis
Which promotility agent is given prior to endoscopy to improve endoscopic visualization?
Erythromycin 250mg IV, 30 mins prior to procedure
When to transfuse blood in a patient with active GI bleeding?
When Hgb <7 g/dl
When will a change in Hgb be observed after initial GI bleeding event?
Up to 72 hours after initial bleeding evente
When to do upper endoscopy in LGIB?
For active hemorrhage/hemodynamic instability (to R/O UGIB)
Classic history of Mallory-Weiss tear
vomiting, retching, coughing preceding hematemesis
Endoscopic therapy of choice for esophageal varices
Ligation
Responsible for majority of cases of obscure GIB
small intestinal sources of bleeding
Most common cause of obscure GIB in adults
vascular ectasias, tumors, NSAIDs
<50 yo: small bowel tumors
>50 yo:: vascular ectasia, NSAIDs
Most common cause of significant LGIB in children
Meckel’s Diverticulum
Most common colonic cause of LGIB in children and adolescents
IBD and juvenile polyps
Test of choice of GI bleed
UGIB: upper endoscopy
LGIB: colonoscopy (unless with massive bleed)
Massive obscure bleed: angiography
Serum bilirubin level in scleral ictus
> 3 mg/dl
Liver disease pattern wherein ALT/AST > ALP
Hepatocellular pattern
Liver disease pattern wherein ALT/AST < ALP
Cholestatic pattern
Most common and most characteristic symptom of liver disease
Fatigue (typically occurs after activity, afternoon fatigue)
Hallmark symptom of liver disease and most reliable marker of severity
Jaundice
Cause of RUQ pain in liver disease
Stretching or irritation of Glisson’s capsule
Single most common risk factor for Hep C
injection drug use
Liver diseases with AST/ALT >1000 U/L
- viral hepatitis
- ischemic liver injury
- toxin- or drug-induced liver injury
Gold standard in diagnosing most liver diseases
Liver biopsy
AST:ALT >2 is seen in what condition?
alcoholic liver disease (AST > ALT)
AST:ALT <1 is seen in what condition?
chronic viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (AST < ALT)