*IBD 3 (lecture 3) Flashcards by Sophia White

What are the 3 therapeutic strategies that can be used to treat IBD?

Lifestyle advice
Drugs
Surgery

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Is diet implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD?

No but it can influence symptoms

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the common theme of all drug therapies?

They have an anti-inflammatory effect (you should tailor the drugs to the patients needs e.g. mild/ moderate/ severe relapse, tropical, oral, IV administration?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the drug therapy options for UC? (4)

5ASA (mesalazine)
Steroids
Immunosuppressants
Anti-TNF therapy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the drug therapy options for Crohn’s disease? (3)

Steroids
Immunosuppressants
Anti-TNF therapy
(used to use mesalazine but shown to be as effective)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How does mesalazine work?
Effect on risk of colon cancer?
Side effects? (2)

It has a topical effect having anti-inflammatory properties
Reduces risk of colon cancer
Diarrhoea
Idiosyncratic nephritis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is a prodrug?

a medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does the fact that 5-ASA are pro-drugs mean?

The active components are released in the colon depending on different factors such as pH, etc.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What type of topical preparations of mesalazine do you get?(2)

Suppositories

Enemas

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are some examples of 5-ASA conjugates?

Sulphasalazine
Balsalazide
Mezavant
Asacol (pH release)
Pentasa (delayed release)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where is pentasa released?

From the duodenum to the colon (unlike the other drugs whcih are either released in the ileum or colon)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the advantage and disadvantage of using suppositories over enemas?

Suppositories coat

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What aids spread of foam and liquid enemas?

Reflex contraction

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How much of an enema stays in the rectum?

less than 10%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What type of enemas do patients prefer?

Foam enemas as it doesn’t make them feel like they need to pass stool

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What properties do corticosteroids have?

Systemic anti-inflammatory properties

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Examples of corticosteroids? (2)

Prednisolone (oral or topical)

Budesonide

What is the purpose of corticosteroids?
What is the risk with corticosteroids?
What should corticosteroids therefore be used as a bridge to?

To induce remission (short course - start a high dose initially and reduce over 6-8 weeks)
Patients can become dependent on them
Maintenance therapy

What are the side effects of steroids?

Musculoskeletal (avascular necrosis, osteoporosis)
GI
Cutaneous (acne, thinning of skin)
Metabolic (weight gain, diabetes, hyerptension)
Neuropsychiatric
Cataracts
Growth failure

If steroids are not effective, what is then used?

Immunosuppression

What is immunosuppression used for in UC?

“steroid-sparing agents”

What is immunosuppression used for in Crohns?

Maintenance therapy

What are 3 examples of immunosuppressive drugs used to treat Crohns and colitis?

Azathioprine
Mercaptopurine
Methotrexate (used rarely)

Azathioprine:
onset of action?
What enzyme contributes to toxicity?
What drug should not be prescribed with this?
What should be regularly monitored in patients on this?
Side effects (4)?

Slow onset (16 weeks)
TPMT
Avoid co-prescription of allopurinol (XO inhibitor)
Regular blood monitoring required
Pancreatitis 
Leucopaenia
Hepatits
small risk of lymphoma and skin cancer

What is tumour necrosis factor alpha?

A pro-inflammatory cytokine

What are 2 examples of antibodies to TNF? | How is each given?

Infliximab (IV infusion) | Adalimumab (S/C injection)

What does anti-TNF therapy do?

Promote apoptosis of activated T lymphocytes (rapid onset of action)

How long does Infliximab tend to put patients in remission for?

8-12 weeks (re-treatment maintains remission)

What is infliximab approved for treatment of?

Initially Crohns but is now approved for treatment of moderate - severe UC

What are the adverse effects associated with anti-TNF alpha therapy?

Infusion reaction in 13% of patients (HACA +ve) Infection Cancer (lymphoma, solid tumours)

When should anti-TNF alpha be used?

As part of a long term strategy including immune supression, surgery and supportive therapy Refractory/ fistulising disease (exclude current infection/ TB)

What are the names of the 2 biosimilar Anti-TNFs that have been produced by different companies and are 1/3 of the cost of Infliximab?

Inflectra | Remsima

When is emergency surgery carried out for IBD?

Failure to respond to medical therapy, small bowel obstruction, abscess, fistulae

When is elective IBD surgery carried out?

Failure to respond to medical therapy | Dysplasia of colon mucosa

Why do you want to minimise the amount of bowel resected in Crohns disease?

The surgery is not curative and if the patient requires a lot of resection they can get short gut syndrome and require lifelong total parenteral nutrition = reduced life expectancy

What is a proctocolectomy?

The surgical removal of the rectum and all or some parts of the colon

What is a brooke ileostomy?

ileostomy in which the divided proximal ileum, brought through the abdominal wall, is evaginated and its edge is sutured to the dermis

What surgery can be done to treat a stricture from Crohns disease?

A longitudinal suture can be made over the suture and then stitched in the horizontal direction

What can be used to treat a Crohns fistula?

Seton suture

What are the 2 possible curative surgery options for UC?

Permanent ileosotmy | Restorative proctocoloectomy and pouch

What functions as the "new" rectum in a restorative proctocoloectomy?

J-pouch (pass stool 5-6 times a day as the pouch is smaller)