Malabsorption Flashcards

1
Q

Define malabsorption.

A

The failure to fully absorb nutrients either because of the destruction to epithelium or due to a problem in the lumen meaning food cannot be digested

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2
Q

What 4 disorders of the SI can cause malabsorption?

A
  1. Coeliac disease
  2. Tropical Sprue
  3. Crohn’s Disease
  4. Parasite infection
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3
Q

Give 5 broad causes of malabsorption.

A
  1. Defective intra-luminal digestion.
  2. Insufficient absorptive area.
  3. Lack of digestive enzymes.
  4. Defective epithelial transport.
  5. Lymphatic obstruction.
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4
Q

Malabsorption: what can cause defective intra-luminal digestion?

A
  1. Pancreatic insufficiency due to pancreatitis, CF. There is a lack of digestive enzymes.
  2. Defective bile secretion due to biliary obstruction or ileal resection.
  3. Bacterial overgrowth.
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5
Q

Why can pancreatitis cause malabsorption?

A

Pancreatitis results in pancreatic insufficiency and so a lack of pancreatic digestive enzymes. There is defective intra-luminal digestion which leads to malabsorption.

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6
Q

Malabsorption: what can cause insufficient absorptive area?

A
  1. Coeliac disease.
  2. Crohn’s disease.
  3. Extensive parasitisation - Giardia lamblia
  4. Small intestine resection.
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7
Q

Malabsorption: give an example of when there is a lack of digestive enzymes.

A

Lactose intolerance - disaccharide enzyme deficiency.

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8
Q

Malabsorption: what can cause lymphatic obstruction?

A
  1. Lymphoma.
  2. TB.
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9
Q

Summarise the different conditions causing bowel malabsorption abnormalities.

A
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