Inflammatory Bowel Conditions Flashcards
What are the two main inflammatory bowel conditions?
- Ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Crohn’s disease (CD)
Describe inflammatory bowel disease
Idiopathic disease caused by immune response to intestinal microflora (antibodies form against parts of the GI tract)
What are the characteristics of ulcerative colitis?
It is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by episodes of inflammation limited to the mucosal layer of the colon (starts in rectum and spreads proximally)
What are some characteristics of Crohn’s disease?
Chronic transmural (affects multiple layers of tissues that form the intestines) inflammation with skip lesions, affecting mouth to perianal area
Starts from proximal colon and spreads to the rest of the GI tract
Review slide 7 for comparison between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
What is the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel conditions?
- Immune system develops antibodies to intestinal normal flora and food antigens, inflammatory mediators are also involved
- Initial trigger is often unknown
- Genetic influence
What are some risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Age (15-40 year olds, regardless of sex)
- Genetic influence
- Smoking (protective against ulcerative colitis due to nicotine’s anti-inflammatory effects)
- Poor diet (processed food, high in saturated fat, sugar. Omega-3 can be beneficial due to anti-inflammatory effect)
- Sedentary lifestyle (elevated risk)
- Obesity (pro-inflammatory state that can trigger UC/Crohn’s disease)
- Stress
-Drugs (Antibiotics, NSAIDs)
What type of inflammatory bowel disease has the highest mortality rates?
1.4-5x higher mortality rates for CD vs. ulcerative colitis
CD increases risk for GI bleeds, obstrcuction, and cancer
What is the malignancy rate for CD?
7.6% at 30 years after diagnosis
What inflammatory bowel disease complication do most patients fear after diagnosis?
Colectomy
Only a single-digit percentage of patients need an ostomy bag (can calm down some patients)
What are some chronic symptoms asssociated with inflammatory bowel disease?
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Mucousy stool (excess)
- Bloody stool (if UC and closer to rectum then red streaks, if CD then more proximal and dark tarry stool
- Weight loss
What are some flare symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease?
- Fever
- Sweats
- Malaise
- Arthralgia
Review slide 16 for a detailed severity classification for UC and CD
How are inflammatory bowel diseases diagnosed?
- Physical exam
- Lab exam (stool (blood or C. Diff) and blood testing (CRP or ESR))
- Imaging and endoscopy (gold standard)
What are some things that should be monitored in inflammatory bowel disease?
- Hemoglobin
- Iron indices
- Nutritional status
- Growth
- BMD (if using chronic corticosteroid for IBD)
- Colonoscopy (within 8 years of onset and screen every 1-2 years if negative results)
What are the goals of treatment for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Recognize disease early
- Induce and sustain remission with least toxic therapy
- Avoid complications
- Maintain current daily life
- Provide secondary care of symptoms
What are some non-pharm treatments for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Bulk fiber to reduce diarrhea
- Reduce fat intake (except Omega 3, has anti-inflammatory effect)
- Elimination diet
- Multivitamins to help prevent malnutrition (usually need more iron)
- Probiotics (do not use alone)
- Smoking cessation
- Exercise
What are some principles of therapy for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Induce remission of acute episode
- Maintain remission
- Minimize use of steroids
What is the definition of remission for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Symptom free
- No inflammatory consequences
- Not steroid dependent
What is the role of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease?
- Highly effective agents for inducing remission
- Orally for UC/CD
- Topical foams and enemas in UC (because UC usually affects rectum, so more accessible)
What are some indications for corticosteroid use in ulcerative colitis?
- Topical for mild-moderate ulcerative colitis
- Oral for moderate-severe ulcerative colitis
What are some indications for corticosteroid use in Crohn’s Disease?
They are one of the few drugs used to acheive remisssion in CD
- Oral for mild-severe Crohn’s disease induction
- Budesonide can be used for short-term maintenance as well (less than 3 months)
How are corticosteroids dosed in inflammatory bowel diseases?
Prednisone 40-60mg daily (PO)
Budesonide (little systemic absorption (5%), runs through GI tract and released at a specific location in GI tract)
Hydrocortisone 10% enemas/foams QHS
What are some corticosteroid administration tips for inflammatory bowel disease?
- Prednisone with food
- Topicals (lie on left side)
Should corticosteroids be used for maintenance therapy in inflammatory bowel disease?
No, corticosteroids should be bridged over to a more optimal maintenance therapy. Tapering is beneficial in preventing withdrawal
Prednisone (max use for 4 weeks)
Budesonide (max use for 8 weeks)
What are some common side effects associated with corticosteroids?
- GI intolerance
- Appetite increase
- Nervousness/anxiety
- Insomnia
- Tremors/heart palpitations