Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis) Flashcards
What is IBD?
Umbrella term for 2 diseases causing inflamm of GI Tract
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn’s
What acronyms tell you the difference between Crohn’s & UC?
Crohn’s: crows NESTS
UC: u - c - CLOSEUP
What is the Pathophysiology of Crohn’s?
Cause unknown, but strong genetic link
Where does Crohn’s most commonly affect? (2 things)
- Terminal ileum
- Colon
(But can be anywhere from mouth to anus)
What is the Pathophysiology of UC?
Inapprop immune response vs abn colonic flora in genetically susceptibile individuals
Why are Crohn’s patients prone to strictures n fistulas n adhesions?
Bc inflamm occurs in all layers down to serosa
What is the acronym that tells you how Crohn’s is different to UC?
crows NESTS
N - No blood / mucus
E - Entire GI tract
S - “Skip lesions” on endoscopy
T - Terminal ileum most affected + Transmural (full thickness) Inflamm
S - Smoking = risk actor (don’t set the nest on fire)
What is the acronym that tells you how UC is different to Crohn’s?
u - c - CLOSEUP
C – Continuous inflamm
L – Limited to colon + rectum
O – Only superficial mucosa affected
S – Smoking is PROTECTIVE lol
E – Excrete blood + mucus
U – Use aminosalicylates
P – Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
What are the CF of Crohn’s? (7 things)
- Fever (low grade)
- Fatigue
- Abd pain (crampy) (most common in kids) / tenderness / mass
- Bowel ulceration
- Perianal abscess / fistula
- Diarrhoea (most common in adults)
- Weight loss
What are the CF of UC? (4 + 7 things)
- Abd pain (crampy) (esp LIF)
- Urgency
- Tenesmus (feeling like u gotta poo)
- Bloody diarrhoea
Extraintestinal signs:
- Fever (low grade)
- Iritis (swelling of iris)
- Oral ulcers
- Tachycardia
- Clubbing
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Erythema nodosum (swollen red nodules under shin skin)
What investigations should you do for sus Crohn’s? (5 things)
- Bloods
- Stool studies
- Colonoscopy w Biopsy (even if mucosa looks normal)
- CT / MRI / XR w barium swallow
- Small bowel enema
What Bloods should you do for sus Crohn’s? (8 things)
- FBC
- ESR
- CRP
- UnE
- LFT
- INR
- Ferritin
- B12
What will a FBC show in Crohn’s? (3 things)
- Anaemia
- Leucocytosis
- Thrombocytosis
(same as UC)
What will the ESR n CRP be in Crohn’s?
Both raised
What will the iron and vit B in bloods of Crohn’s be?
Deficient in both
Why is it important to do UnE in Crohn’s?
Chronic diarrhoea can cause elec imb
(same as in UC)
Why are stool studies done in sus Crohn’s? (3 things)
- To exclude other causes of inflamm diarrhoea (e.g infection)
- C. difficile toxin studies (if recent abx use)
- Maybe traces of blood in stool (less common in Crohn’s)