Helicobacter Pylori and Gastric Disease Flashcards
what is dyspepsia?
pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen
what symptoms does dyspepsia include?
> upper abdominal discomfort > retrosternal pain > anorexia > nausea > vomiting > bloating > fullness > early satiety > heart burn
what are upper gi causes of dyspepsia?
> peptic ulcer
gastritis
non-ulcer dyspepsia
gastric cancer
what are lower causes of dyspepsia?
> IBS
> colonic cancer
how may the gall bladder cause dyspepsia?
formation of gallstones
what systemic problems may cause dyspepsia?
> cardiac
drugs
psychological
in dyspepsia when would you refer for an endoscopy?
Anorexia Loss in weight Anaemia Recent onset >55 years Melaena/haematemesis Mass Swallowing problems (dysphagia)
what are the risks associated with upper gi endoscopy?
> 1:2000 risk perforation
bleeding
drug reaction
what blood tests are carried out in dyspepsia?
> fbc > ferritin > lft's > u and e's > calcium > glucose > ceoliac serology/serum iga
what would you look for in a drug history in patients with dyspepsia?
> nsaids > steriods > biphosphonates > calcium antagonists > nitrates > throphyllines
if a patient who is over 55 prsents with dyspepsia what would you carry out?
an upper gi endoscopy
a patient who is less than 55 present with dyspepsia. what test would you carry out?
test for helicobacter pylori
if the helicobacter pylori test is positive what is your next step?
eradication therapy and symptomatic treatment with PPIs or H2R antagonists.
if symptoms resist refer them to GI
describe the helicobacter pylori bacterium
> gram negative
spiral shaped
microaerophilic
flagellated
how much of the world population is infected with helicobacter pylori?
50%
where does h. pylori colonise?
surface layer of gastric type mucosa. does not penetrate the epithelial layer.
what does h. pylori invoke in the underlying mucosa?
host immune response
what are the clinical outcomes of h. pylori?
> asymptomatic > chronic gastritis > chronic atrophic gastritis > intestinal metaplasia > gastric/duodenal ulcers > gastric cancer