IBD Flashcards
What is colitis ?
Colitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the colon
Define what crohn’s disease (CD) is
It is a chronic inflammatory and ulcerating condition of the GI tract that can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus
What part of the GI tract does crohn’s affect most commonly ?
Most common in the terminal ileum and colon
Who is most commonly affected by CD?
- Younger patients (late adolescence or early adulthood) and males
- Think stew thompson
What are the typical presenting features of CD?
- Abdominal pain - usually tenderness in RLQ
- Diarrhoea - usually non-bloody
- Small bowel obstruction
- Upper gastrointestinal symptoms: mouth ulcers, angular cheilitis
- Perianal disease: Skin tags, ulcers, abscesses, fistulas (cause peristent leaking)
- Abdominal mass palpable in the RIF
- Weight loss & Anaemia (lethargy)
Describe the normal clinical course of CD
- Chronic
- Exacerbations and remissions
- Unpredictable response to therapy
List the key pathological features of CD
- Segmental disease (patchy areas affected) from anywhere from mouth to anus
- Transmural inflammation (affects all layers) - hence prone to strictures, fistulas & adhesions
- Goblet cells & granulomas seen in inflammation
- Deep knife-like fissuring ulcers & skip lesions creating ‘cobblestone appearance’
What are the complications which may occur due to CD ?
- Bowel obstruction and potentially perforation
- Fistulas, strictures & adhesions
- Colorectal cancer
- Malabsorption (due to repeated bowel resections) - results in hypoproteineima, Vitamin deficiency (osteoporosis), anaemia
- Gallstones
- Perianal disease e.g. skin tags, ulcers, fistulas, abscesses
- Intractable disease (failure to respond to med therapy) ==> surgical ressection which is not curative
- Rarely toxic megacolon
What genetic mutations are associated with CD ?
HLA-DR1, HLA-DQw5 & NOD2 mutations
What does smoking do to the risk of CD?
It increases the risk
What are the initial investigations you should do in someone with suspected CD?
- Blood tests and inflam markers (ESR &CRP)
- Faecal calprotein (raised suggests CD compared to a normal result suggesting IBS)
- Coeliac serology
- Stool microscopy & culture - to exclude infective gastroenteritis or pseudomembraneous colitis
- Plain AXR to identify small bowel or colonic dilatation, which may indicate obstruction.
Following inital tests what are the specialised tests done to diagnose CD?
Coloscopy + multiple mucosal biopsies - key thing used to diagnose
May also do:
- Upper intestinal endoscopy for children and young people, and if there are upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms in adults.
- Pelvic MRI to evaluate suspected perianal or small bowel disease, to allow definition of the extent and location of abscesses and fistulas.
- Computed tomography (CT) to stage Crohn’s disease and look for extraluminal complications, such as abscesses and fistulas.
What initial advice should be given to all patients with CD if they are smoking ?
To stop smoking!
What is the treatment of CD to induce remission ?
- 1st line = corticosteroids e.g. prednisolone
- 2nd line = Aminosalicylates (5-ASA) either mesalazine or sulfasalazine if corticosteroids contraindicated
- 3rd line = anti-tumour factor alpha-monoclonal antibody agents - inflixumab & adalimumab (for refractory disease & perinanal disease e.g. fistulating CD)
What treatment may be added to someone with CD flare up alongside corticosteroids ?
- 1st line = Thiopurines (azathioprine or mercaptopurine)
- 2nd line = methotrexate
What treatment is used as an alternative to corticosteroids in children & young people who have faltering growth or development or there is concerns about steroid adverse effects?
Specialist enteral feeding may be used
What is often used for treatment of isolated peri-anal disease in CD?
Metronidazole
What is the maintanence treatment of CD?
- 1st line = thiopurines (azathioprine or mercaptopurine)
- 2nd line = methotrexate
For patients whom have had complete macroscopic resection 1st line = azathioprine + metronidazole for 3 months (aza on its own if metronidazole contraindicated)
What do you need to assess prior to prescribing thiopurines ?
Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity
What will 80% of CD patients despite medical therapy go onto recivieving ?
Surgery - usually subtotal colectomy, panproctocolectomy or staged sub-total colectomy & proctectomy
What should you asses the risk of in all patients with CD?
Risk of osteoporosis
What should you monitor in patients with CD?
Ferritin, vit B12, folate, calcium, & vit D levels - arrange supplementation if low
Define what ulcerative colitis (UC) is
It is a chronic inflammatory disorder confined between the rectum and ileocaecal valve
When is the peak incidence of UC occuring ?
In people aged 15-25 years and in those aged 55-65 years.
List the key pathological features of UC
- Inflammation is continuous & almost always starts in the rectum. It then spreads proximally for varying lengths but never extends beyond the ileocaecal valve
- No inflammation beyond the submucosa
- Widespread superficial ulceration which has the appearance of polyps ‘pseudopolyps’
- No granulomas
- Crypt abscesses
- Decreased goblet cells
What are the genetic mutations linked to UC ?
HLA-DR2 and NOD2 gene
What are the typical presenting features of UC ?
- Bloody diarrhoea + mucus
- Urgency
- Tenesmus (a continual or recurrent inclination to evacuate the bowels)
- Abdo pain, particularly in the left lower quadrant - particular LIF
- Extra-intestinal features
- colon is narrow and short -‘drainpipe colon’ on AXR
What complications may arise in patients with UC?
- Intractable disease - causing continuous diarrhoea which may then require total colectomy
- Toxic megacolon - requries emergency colectomy (as it will rupture)
- Colorectal carcinoma - requires survellience (risk much higher in UC than CD)
- Malabsorption (due to repeated bowel resections) - results in hypoproteineima, Vitamin deficiency (osteoporosis), anaemia
- Blood loss may also cause anaemia
- Electrolyte distrubance - hypokalaemia
- Rarely anal fissures
- Extra GI manifestations - uveitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum