IBD Flashcards
What is IBD?
A group of chronic diseases
What conditions come under IBD?
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
What is Crohn’s disease?
Patchy transmural ulceration of all layers of the intestinal wall and can affect the whole of GIT mouth to anus
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Confluent mucosal inflammation and ulceration of colon and rectum mucosa affecting mucosal and submucosal layers
Superficial inflammation
What are the implications of inflammation of gastric mucosa?
Relapsing and remitting
What are the implications of continuous inflammation?
Local destruction of GIT mainly bowel
What are the causes of IBD?
Genetic
Air pollution
Smoking
Infection
Medication
Diet
Gut microbes
Immunological
Toxic response to luminal contents
Specific microbial pathogen
Abnormal luminal constituents
Increased absorption of luminal macro molecules
Enhanced immunologic response to normal constituents
Autoimmune response
To epithelial cell or mucus glycoproteins
Molecular mimicry (cross-reactivity of intestinal microflora and epithelia)
To immune cells
What are the signs and symptoms?
Abdominal pain Diarrhoea- watery, bloody, mucous Tiredness Fatigue Urgency Weight loss Anaemia Fever Nausea Vomiting Abdominal bloating and distension UC= more bleeding CD= more obstruction Extra intestinal manifestations Swollen joints- arthritis Eye problems- episcleritis, iritis, uveitis Erythema nodosum- swollen fat under skin causing redness, bumps + lumps Pyoderma gangrenosum- skin ulceration Primary sclerosing cholangitis
What complications does CD cause?
STRICTURES
- narrowed bowel segments causing blockage, acute dilation, perforation
FISTULAS
- Abnormal channels lined with granulation tissue between intestine and skin or other parts of intestine or organs like the bladder
What variables are used in the CD activity index?
Number of liquid or soft stools Severity of Abd pain General well being Complications present Fever Is loperamide being used Is there anaemia Body weight Is there an abdominal mass or not
What indicates the presence of severe active CD?
Poor general health Weight loss Severe Abd pain Fever Frequent diarrhoeal stools 3-4x daily New fistulae Extra intestinal manifestations Score >300 Harvey Bradshaw score >8-9
What diagnostic tests and investigations are used?
Full history and detailed clinical exam Full blood count Inflammatory markers U + E Thyroid function test Liver function test Bone profile Stool culture to rule out c.difficile Coeliac screen Faecal calprotectin Abdominal imaging Endoscopy + capsule endoscopy Colonoscopy Biopsies to differentiate between CD and UC
What index is used to assess UC and its variables?
Truelove and wits severity index Bowel movements blood in stool pyrexia pulse rate anaemia erythrocyte sedimentation rate
What is monitored in the case of acute relapse or flare?
Faecal calprotectin Stool frequency Blood or mucous in stool Temp C reactive protein U + E HR- tachycardia BP- hypotension
What are the management aims of IBD?
Achieve remission Maintain remission Improve quality of life Avoid surgery Reduce long term steroid use Reduce risk of colorectal cancer Reduce risk of other complications
What are the formulations used and where is the drug released in the bowel?
Suppository = Rectum Foam = Sigmoid colon Enemas = Descending colon to distal parts of transverse colon
What do you need to consider when choosing pharmacological treatment?
Patient preference
Route of admin
Preferred formulation
Licensed indications
What are the treatments/managements used in IBD?
Corticosteroids Amino-salicylates Immunodulating agents Biologics Antibiotics Novel treatments Surgical
What is the MOA of corticosteroids specifically prednisolone?
Induce disease remission Treats flares Doesn’t prevent progression or complications Reduce inflammation Modulate immune system
PREDNISOLONE
Binds to cellular glucorticoid receptor
Inhibits inflammatory cells
Suppresses expression of inflammatory mediators
What corticosteroids are used in IBD?
Prednisolone- 40mg OD
Hydrocortisone IV for severe-acute in hospital 100mg QDS
Budesonide
Methylprednisolone