IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Flashcards
What are inflammatory bowel diseases?
Inflammatory bowel diseases are:
Diseases characterised by chronic immune mediated inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Are IBDs curable?
No, IBDs are incurable. The goal is for remission.
_______ often have a progressive destructive course
IBDs often have a progressive destructive course.
What is Crohn’s aetiology according to Ha &Khalil 2015?
Crohn’s aetiology:
* Exact aetiology remains unknown
* complex interaction between genetic predisposition,
* environmental risk factors
* immune dysregulation to intestinal microbiota (Ha & Khalil 2015)
What are the two main forms of IBDs?
Two main forms of IBDs:
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
What are the overlapping clinical features of UC and CD?
Overlapping features of UC & CD:
* Diarrhoea
* Pain
* Periodic relapses
* Nutrient deficiency (iron, vitamin B12, folate etc)
* Non digestive system organs also affected
* Arthritis or joint inflammation (Crohn’s and colitis foundation)
What are the characteristics of ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis symptoms:
* Rectum always affected
* Colon may be affected
* Other parts of intestine may be affected
* Continuous involvement of inflammation
* Inflammation at mucosa only
* Bloody diarrhoea
* Colicky left side pain (bowel, sharp, localized gastrointestinal. spasms, waves)
* Tenesmus (inadequate bowel emptying)
* Arthritis/joint inflammation
What is the prevalence of IBDs in the UK?
Research conducted by Crohn’s & Colitis UK in 2022 suggests 1 in every 123 people in the UK have either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Which habit is shown to reduce ulcerative colitis?
Studies suggest that smoking (nicotine) can protect against ulcerative colitis
What might ulcerative colitis cause?
Ulcerative colitis might cause:
* Leaky colon
* Toxic megacolon
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease symptoms
* Transmural inflammation (muscle layer and mucosal layer affected)
* Skip lesions (some areas aren’t inflamed, makes treatment difficult)
* Strictures and fistulas (can cause blockage and prevent food travelling)
* Any part of GI tract may be affected
* Lower right abdominal pain usually (distal ileum proximal intestine)
* Diarrhoea
* Insiduous onset
* Cobblestone looking inflammation
Can ulcerative colitis usually have acute or insidious onset?
Ulcerative colitis usually has acute onset.
Does Crohn’s disease have acute or insidious onset?
Crohn’s disease usually has insidious onset.
What does transmural inflammation in Crohn’s disease lead to?
Transmural inflammation in Crohn’s disease can lead to scar tissue development which can cause intestinal narrowing.
Why do people with Crohn’s disease tend to have lower right quadrant abdominal pain?
People with Crohn’s disease tend to have lower right quadrant pain as the distal ileum proximal part of the intestine is usually affected.
What percentage of Crohn’s disease sufferers have their distal ileum proximal part of the intestine affected?
45% of Crohn’s disease sufferers are affected in their distal ileum proximal part of the intestine.
Which other parts of the body may be affected in people with IBDs?
Extra intestinal symptoms of IBDs:
Issues with:
* Bones & joints
* Eyes
* Skin
* Pancreas liver biliary system
* Kidney
* Circulation
What is the aetiology of IBDs ?
IBD aetiology:
* largely unknown but important factors are:
* Genetics : immune cell pathogen recognition
* Bacteria: might be changes in the gut microbiome
* Environmental triggers
What is being investigated to help UC?
Faecal transplants are being investigated to treat ulcerative colitis.
What habit might excaberate Crohn’s disease?
Smoking might exaceberate Crohn’s disease.
Genetic concordance has been shown in _________ __________
Genetic concordance has been shown in **Crohn’s disease **but not ulcerative colitis.
What is the peak age of Crohn’s disease?
The peak age of Crohn’s disease is 30-39 years (Ha & Khalil 2015)
Which blood tests are conducted to investigate IBDs?
Blood tests for IBD investigations:
* Inflammatory markers
* Full blood count
* C-Reactive Protein
* Urea and electrolytes
* Liver function tests
* ASCA (Anti-S.cerevisiae antibodies)
* p-ANCA (perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)
ASCA is for ________ __________ whereas p-ANCA is for ___________ ________.
ASCA is for Crohn’s disease whereas p-ANCA is for ulcerative colitis.
Which stool test might be conducted for IBDs?
Faecal calprotectin stool test might be conducted for IBDs.
Investigations for IBDS may include which 3 tests?
Investigations for IBDS may include:
* Blood tests
* Stool tests
* Imaging
Upper GI symptoms:?
Lower GI symptoms: ?
Upper GI symptoms: Upper GI endoscopy
Lower GI symptoms: Flexible sigmoidoscopy/EUA
What are the IBD treatment goals?
IBD treatment goals:
*Control inflammation
* Promote and maintain remission
* Relieve symptoms
*Prevent or cure complications
* Control inflammation
* Improve quality of life
* Spare use of steroids
* Avoid surgery
Which types of drugs are used for IBD treatment?
Drugs for IBD treatment:
* Anti-inflammatory drugs
* Immunosuppressants
* Biologics
What do anti-inflammatory drugs do?
Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation
What do immunosuppressants do?
Immunosuppressants reduce the immune response
What do biologics do?
Biologics target specific components of the inflammatory response.
What are three types of anti-inflammatory drugs?
Three types of anti-inflammatory drugs:
* Sulfasalazine
* Mesalazine (5-ASA)
* Glucocorticoids
Describe the two main actions of glucocorticoids
Two main actions of glucocorticoids:
1. Anti inflammatory & immune suppression by inhibiting the expression of pro inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-2 & TNFa)
2. Inhibiting inflammatory cell action (T-Cells)
* Decreasing T cell function and proliferation
What are the benefits of glucocorticoids?
Glucocorticoid benefits:
* Powerful
* Good for short term use
Why aren’t glucocorticoids used long term?
Glucocorticoids aren’t used long term because of the side effects they may cause.
Which side effects may materialise from long term glucocorticoid use?
Long term glucocorticoid use may cause:
* Cushing’s syndrome
* Osteoporosis
* Hyperglycaemia>T2D
* Negative nitrogen balance
* Increased appetite
* Increased infection susceptibility
* Obesity
________________ reduce pro-inflammatory ___________ production, inhibit a variety of ___________ functions, and interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism
Steroids reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, inhibit a variety of leukocyte functions, and interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing syndrome is:
* a condition caused by having too much of a hormone called cortisol in your body
* may be caused by steroid medication or stress
Name an example of a glucocorticoid
Example of a glucocorticoid:
Prednisolone
Patients may become ____________ dependent.
Patients may become **steroid **dependent.