Malabsorption Syndrome

Question 1

What is malabsorption syndrome

Answer 1

State arising from abnormality in absorption of single or multiple food nutrients across GIT which can lead to malnutrition and a variety of anemias

Question 2

Steps of body food processing that could be affected in malabsorption syndrome

Answer 2

Digestion
Absorption
Transport

Question 3

causes of malabsorption

Answer 3

Enzyme deficiency leading to failed digestion
Structural defects
Mucosal abnormality
Infective agents
Systemic dx affecting GIT

Question 4

2 Main types of digestive failure

Answer 4

Pancreatic insuffiencies
Bile salt insuffiencies

Question 5

Dx causing pancreatic insuffiencies leading to digestive failure

Answer 5

Cystic fibrosis
Chronic pancreatitis
Carcinoma of pancreas

Question 6

Dx causing bile salt insuffiencies leading to digestive failure

Answer 6

Obstructive jaundice (gallstones and tumors )
Bacterial overgrowth

Question 7

Dx caused by structural defects leading to malabsorption

Answer 7

Inflammatory bowel disease - CD
Gastrectomy
Gastrojejunostomy
Fistulae , diverticular, strictures
Amyloidosis , lymphoma
Short Bowel syndrome
Eosinophilic gastroenteropathy

Question 8

Dx due to mucosal abnormality causing malabsorption

Answer 8

Coeliac disease

Question 9

Dx due to enzyme deficiency causing malabsorption

Answer 9

Lactase deficiency -> lactose intolerance
Disaccharidase deficiency
Enteropeptidase deficiency

Question 10

infective agents casing malabsorption

Answer 10

Whipples disease
Intestinal tb
Tropical sprue
Parasites - Gardia lamblia

Question 11

Dx from other systems affecting git and causing malabsorption

Answer 11

Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
DM
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism
Carcinoid syndrome
Malnutrition

Question 12

Most common feature of malabsorption syndrome

Answer 12

Diarrhea / steatorrhea

Question 13

Symptoms of malabsorption syndrome

Answer 13

Weight loss
Growth retardations
Swelling / edema
Anemia
Muscle cramps
Bleeding tendencies

Question 14

celiac sprue age incidence

Answer 14

First year of life to 8 decade

Question 15

Factors causing/associated with coeliac sprue

Answer 15

Environmental - gliadin from gluten found in wheat
Immunologic - antibodies like antigliadin
Genetic - HLA-DQ2 found in almost all patient

Question 16

Diagnosis of coeliac sprue

Answer 16

Small intestine biopsy abnormal - hallmark

Question 17

Agents causing tropical sprue

Answer 17

Giardia lamblia
Yersinia enterocolitica
Clostridium difficile

Question 18

Part of bowel affected in tropical sprue

Answer 18

Small bowel

Question 19

What is Crohns dx

Answer 19

Inflammatory bowel dx ,arkesd by areas of inflammation anywhere in git from mouth to anus

Question 20

Underlying mechanism in crohns. Disease

Answer 20

Body’s immune system attacks git leading to chronic inflammation

Question 21

Short bowel syndrome symptoms

Answer 21

Diarrhea
Steatorrhea
Cramping
Bloating
Heartburn

Question 22

Bacterial overgrowth syndrome cause

Answer 22

Stasis of bacteria due to impaired peristalsis

Question 23

Malabsorption pathophysiology in bacterial overgrowth syndrome

Answer 23

Bacteria metabolize bile salt at higher rate -> decreased bile salt -> impaired absorption of fat

Bacteria release toxins and metabolic products -> damage villi-> cause clous atrophy

Question 24

Whipples dx bacteria

Answer 24

Tropheryma whipplei