IBD Flashcards
what are the 2 idiopathic chronic inflammatory diseases that make up IBD
- Crohns disease’s
- ulcerative colitis
what is crohns disease
lifelong condition where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed
what is ulcerative colitis
inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system, including large bowel and rectum
what is the aetiology of crohns disease
- immune system
- heredity (NOD2 and CARD15 -encodes a protein involved in bacterial recognition )
- the environment - smoking aggregates crohns but protects against UC, NSAIDS
- intestinal microbiota - enhanced level of antimicrobial activity
- host immune response
what is the distribution like in crohns disease
- can affect any region of GI tract from mouth to anus
- skip lesions
- transmural inflammation
what are symptoms of crohns disease in the small intestine
- abdominal cramps (periumbilical)
- diarrhoea
- weight loss
what are symptoms of crohns disease in the colon
- abdominal cramps ( lower abdomen )
- diarrhoea with blood
- weight loss
what are symptoms of Crohns disease in the mouth
- painful ulcers
- swollen lips
- angular chielitis
what are symptoms of Crohns disease in the anus
- peri-anal apin
- abscess
what further assessments of Crohns should be done
- examination : evidence of weight loss, Right iliac fossa, peri-anal signs
- bloods : CRP, albumin, platelets, B12, ferritin (Deficient in iron), FBC
- stage the disease extent
- stool test including a c.difficile toxin assay
- colonoscopy if colonic involvement suspected
- upper GI endoscopy to exclude oesophageal and gasproduodenal disease
- small bowel imaging
- ultrasound scanning
- perianal MRI
what are the therapeutic strategies to managing Crohns
- lifestyle advice
- smoking aggregates Crohns
- drugs
- all therapies have an anti inflammatory effect
- surgery
what is the aims of management of Crohns
to induce and then maintain clinical remission and to achieve mucosal healing in order to prevent disease progression and complications
how is remission introduced for Crohns
Glucacoisteroids
- used in moderate and severe attacks of Crohns
- mild to moderate ileoceacal disease should be treated with controlled release of corticosteroid (Budesonide)
Aminosalicylates
Antibiotics
- used for treating secondary complications of CD
Exclusive enteral nutrition
- traditional treatment for moderate to severe attacks of CD in paediatric practice
how is remission maintained for Crohns
Conventional maintenance therapies
- Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate
- the long term treatment with these drugs is needed as the rate of relapse on discontinuation is high
Anti-TNF agents
- Infliximab, Adalimumab
- reduces inflammation
- used with patients who have a poor prognosis
what is the surgical management for Crohns
- minimise amount of bowel respected
- not curative
- repeated resection of small intestine can lead to ‘short gut’ and requirement of lifelong total parenteral nutrition