Malabsorption Flashcards
What disorders of the small intestine cause malabsorption?
Coeliac Dermatitis herpetiformis Tropical Sprue Bacterial overgrowth Intestinal resection Whipple's disease Radiation enteropathy Parasite infection
What is coeliac disease?
A condition where there is inflammation of the mucosa of the upper small bowel that improves when gluten is taken out of the diet but relapses when it is reintroduced
Which cereals are entirely made of gluten?
Wheat
Barley
Rye
What are prolamins?
Damaging factors that are resistant to digestion and trigger immune responses
In coeliac disease does mucosal damage decrease towards the duodenum or ileum?
Ileum
What are some symptoms of coeliac disease?
Tiredness Malaise Diarrhoea Steatorrhoea Abdominal pain Weight loss
How is coeliac disease diagnosed (in all but clear cut cases)?
Small bowel biopsy
Other than small bowel biopsy, what else is sufficient to diagnose coeliac disease?
Serology - tissue transglutamase
What are the histological features of coeliac disease?
Villous atrophy
Crypt hyperplasia
What are the indications for serological testing for coeliac disease?
Persistent diarrhoea Folate or iron deficiency Unexplained abnormal LFTs Family history of coeliac disease Associated autoimmune disease
What antibodies do standard serological tests use for coeliac disease?
IgA
Why might haematology be done for coeliac disease?
To check for anaemia and folate deficiency
Why might biochemistry be done for coeliac disease?
In severe cases there may be osteomalacia or hypoalbuminaemia
What imaging might be done for coeliac disease?
Small bowel barium follow through
or MRI
Why might imaging be done for coeliac disease?
Mainly when a complication such as lymphoma is suspected
Why might bone densitometry be done for coeliac disease?
There is a risk of osteoporosis
Why might a capsule endoscopy be done for coeliac disease?
To look for gut abnormalities when complication is suspected
What may initially be needed in coeliac disease?
Replacement vitamins
What is the management for coeliac disease?
Gluten free diet for life
What is dermatitis herpetiformis?
A blistering, sub-epidermal eruption of the skin associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy
Is dermatitis herpetiformis common?
No
What is the management for dermatitis herpetiformis?
Dapsone for the skin
Gluten free diet
What is non-coeliac gluten intolerance?
Patients who are sensitive to gluten but coeliac serology is negative and biopsies are normal