MEH conditions Flashcards
What is the effect of G6DP deficiency?
- Reduced activity of the enzyme so low level of NADPH. NADPH is required for reduction of oxidised glutathione back to active reduced form
- Reduced glutathione is needed for oxidative damage protection
Why are red blood cells particularly affected by G6DPH deficiency?
The only source of NADPH they have is from the G6DP reaction. This results in haemoglobin cross linkage due to oxidative damage and formation of Heinz bodies.
What is the cause of Galactosaemia?
Lack of Galactokinase enzyme and galactose-1-phosphate Uridyl transferase enzyme (more common).
What is galactosaemia?
- Lack of galactokinase results in accumulation of galactose
- Lack of Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase enzyme and UDP epimerise enzyme results in increase in Glalactose and Galactose-1-Phosphate.
- Accumulation of galactose results in aldose reductase reducing it to galactitol and depleting NADPH.
What is the effect of galactosaemia?
- In the eye it causes cataracts due to lens structure damage via cross linking of proteins by disulphide bonds. There also could be non enzymatic glycosylation of the lens protein due to high lactose which contribute to cataracts
- There could be increased intra-occular pressure applied on the eye due to accumulation of galactose and galacticol therefore causes glaucoma
- Damage to liver, brain, kidney due to galactose 1 phosphate accumulation
What cause essential fructosuria?
Fructose kinase missing
What causes fructose intolerance?
Aldolase missing. The fructose 1 phosphate accumulates in the liver leading to liver damage
What smell is present on the breath of untreated type 1 diabetic patients?
Smell of acetone.(nail polish remover)
What is the cause of ketoacidosis?
High concentrations of acetoacetate and beta hydroxybutyrate.
What is the mechanism of action of Statin?
They inhibit HMG-CoA reductase so less cholesterol is synthesised.
What is the effect of excessive alcohol consumption on the liver?
-Decrease in NAD+/NADH ratio and the increased availability of acetyl CoA lead to increased synthesis of fatty acids and ketone bodies.
-Newly synthesised fatty acids are converted to triacylglycerols
-Lack of lipoprotein synthesis causes a fatty liver
In some cases ketone body production is sufficient to cause ketoacidosis
What is used as an adjunct in treatment for alcohol dependance?
Disulfiram. Causes accumulation in acetaldehyde and causes a hangover.
What can damage to hepatocytes lead to?
- Hyperbilirubinaemia due to reduction in the liver capacity to take up conjugate bilirubin which may produce jaundice
- Oedema due to low serum albumin
- Decreased in capacity to produce urea so this leads to hyperammonaemia and increased level of glutamine
- Decreased amounts of clotting factors lead to increase in blood clotting time
What is chronic pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas due to chronic heavy alcohol consumption. Symptoms are
- constant pain in the upper abdomen that radiate to the back
- weight loss due to malabsorption causes by insufficient enzyme production
- if the beta pancreatic cells are damaged, lack of insulin leads to hypoglycaemia and glycosuria
What is produced when a toxic dose of paracetamol is ingested?
NAPQI which is a strong oxidising agent and is conjugated with glutathione depleting its levels. This causes oxidative stress
What the treatment for paracetamol overdose?
Acetylcysteine (within 8 hours) to replenish the glutathione levels so liver can safely metabolise the NAPQI. Beyond 8 hours, death as a result of liver failure may be inevitable
What is the cause and symptoms of phenylketonuria?
Defective phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme which so phenylalanine accumulates in tissues and blood. It is metabolised in other pathways which causes the production of phenylpyruvate which is excreted in the urine.
If untreated results in inhibition of brain development due to inhibitor of pyruvate uptake into mitochondria by phenylpyruvate.
How is phenylketonuria diagnosed?
Phenylketone detected in the urine
Measurement of the blood phenylalanine concetration
At birth the Heel prick test
What is homocystinuria?
Rare autosomal recessive defect in methionine metabolism in which the 1 is caused by a deficiency in cystathionine B-synthase (CBS) enzyme. Levels of homocysteine increase in blood and some of this is converted to methionine. Increase in plasma levels of homocysteine can cause disorders of connective tissue, muscle, CNS and cardiovascular system. Detected by high levels of methionine and homocysteine in plasma and homocysteine in urine.
How does homocystunuria present in children and why is this important?
Similar symptoms to marfan’s syndrome so can be misdiagnosed. The fibrillin-1 protein structure is affected.
What is refeeding syndrome?
When nutritional support is given to severely malnourished patient, due to the enzyme in the urea cycle not being induced to handle the amount of nitrogen being introduced, it can result in a toxic ammonia concentration which can cause death. Therefore it is important to gradually raise to their full needs over a week.
What does defect in one of the enzyme in the urea cycle result in?
-Hyperammonaemia
-Accumulation and/or excretion of particular urea cycle intermediate
Symptoms
-Irrittability
-Vomiting
-Lethargy
-Mental retardation
-Seizures
-Coma
-Death
What is the treatment for defect in enzyme in the urea cycle?
Low protein diets or a diet in which the keto acids of the essential amino acids are used to replace the amino acids themselves which used NH4+ so lowers it concentration
What is Von gierke’s disease?
Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency
What is McArdle disease?
Muscle glycogen phosphorylase deficiency
What is the effect of defect of enzymes in the glycogen cycle?
Increased or decreased amounts of glycogen which may cause: -Fasting Hypoglycaemia -Tissue damage if excessive storage -Poor exercise tolerance -Glycogen structure may be abnormal Usually liver and/or muscle affected
What can disorder in lipoprotein metabolism lead to?
Atherosclerosis and Coronary artery disease
What causes unstable lipoproteins of abnormal structure?
Deficiency in the LCAT enzyme. Less conversion of cholesterol to cholesterol ester using fatty acid derived from lecithin. Failure in the lipid transport process.
Why are LDL particles more likely to lead to formation of atherosclerotic plaques?
Longer half life so therefore increased chance of oxidative damage
What is familial hypercholesterolaemia?
Absence (Homozygous) or deficiency (heterozygous) of functional LDL receptors. The condition is characterised by elevated levels of LDL and cholesterol in plasma. Extensive atherosclerosis in homozygous sufferers early in life and later in life for heterozygous.
What is the cause of type 1 hyperlipoproteinaemia?
Caused by defective lipoprotein lipase. Chylomicrons in fasting plasma.
What is the cause of type 2a hyperlipoproteinaemia?
Caused by defective LDL receptor.
Which type of hyperlipoproteinaemia are linked with coronary heart disease?
Type 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5
What is the cause of hyperlipoproteinaemia 3?
Defective apoprotein E. Raised IDL and chylomicron remnants.
What is the cause of hyperlipoproteinaemia 5?
Raised chylomicrons and VLDL in fasting plasma.
What are the clinical sign of hypercholesterolaemia?
- Xanthelasma
- Tendon xanthoma
- Corneal Arcus
What is the result of a splenectomy?
- Increased risk of infection by encapsulated bacteria
- Increased risk of sepsis
What can cause hereditary spherocytosis?
Gene mutations in membrane associated proteins. (ankyrin, band 3, protein 4.2, spectrin)
What is iron deficiency ?
It is a symptom and not a diagnosis. Clinicians must treat the underlying cause which can be:
- excessive bleeding
- pregnancy
- insufficient intake or poor absorption
What is hereditary hemochromatosis?
An autosomal recessive disorder characterised by excessive absorption of dietary iron. Iron accumulates in tissues and organs disrupting their normal function as there is no system for iron secretion. Defect is in HFE gene which normally binds to transferrin receptor to reduce its affinity for iron-bound transferrin.
What is the presentation in a patient with hereditary hemochromatosis?
- Cirrhosis
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Heart failure
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
What is the treatment for hereditary hemochrombtosis?
Therapeutic phlebotomy to remove excess iron
What are the symptoms of acute onset anaemia?
- Fatigue
- Dyspnoea
- Palpitations
- Headache
- Angina and intermittent claudication in older patients
Clinical signs are
- Pallor
- Tachycardia
- Systolic murmur
Why might anaemia develop?
- Abnormal erythropoiesis (chemotherapy, radiating parvovirus, autoimmunity, chronic kidney disease)
- Abnormal haemoglobin synthesis (iron deficiency)
- Chronic disease (macrophages reduce RBC lifespan, IL-6 increase production of hepcidin)
- Globin gene mutation (Thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia)
- Deficiencies in building blocks for DNA synthesis (folate, Vitamin B12)
- Deficiency in red cell metabolism (G6DPH deficiency, Pyruvate kinase defciency)
What are myeloproliferative neoplasms?
A group of diseases of the bone marrow in which excess cells are produced
What is the common molecular pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms?
Mutation of the gene coding for the tyrosine kinase Janus Kinase 2(JAK2)
What is thrombocythaemia?
Excess production of platelets by megakaryocytes
What is polycythaemia vera and its clinical features?
Characterised by overproduction of red blood cells.
Clinical features are
- Thrombosis
- Haemorrhage
- Burning pain in the hands and feet
- Pruritis
- Splenic discomfort, splenomegaly
- Gout
- Arthritis
What is myelofibrosis?
Characterised by replacement of the haematopoietic tissue by connective tissue leading to impairment of the generation of all blood cells.
What is the treatment of polycythaemia vera?
- Phlebotomy to maintain haematocrit below 45%
- Aspirin is due to its anti-platelet effects may be prescribed unless contraindicated
What are the causes of polycythaemia?
- Increase in number of erythrocytes
- Decrease in the plasma volume
What is the cause of acromegaly?
-Excess growth hormone secretion
What are the symptoms of acromegaly in an adult?
Gradual change in features over years
- Broad nose
- Coarse facial features
- Thick lips
- Prominent supraorbital ridge
- Enlargement of hands and feet
- Greasy skin with excessive sweating
- Deepening of the voice
What are the long term complications of acromegaly?
- Premature cardiovascular death
- Increased risk of colonic tumours
- Increased risk of thyroid cancer
- Hypertension and diabetes mellitus
What does excessive secretion of growth hormone in childhood lead to?
Gigantism
What is the test for excessive growth hormone secretion?
-Oral glucose tolerance test with GH response
-Failure to suppress GH
-Elevated IGF-1 level
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What are 3 types of treatment for patient with acromegaly?
- Surgery to remove adenoma
- Radiation therapy
- Drug therapy (Pegvisomant, Carbegoline)
What are the structure surrounding the pituitary gland?
you don’t to remember according to lecturer but appreciate the effect of the tumour
Optic chasm(vision) - Superior
Oculomotor nerve and trochlear nerve (eye movement) - Lateral
Ophthalmic nerve and Maxillary nerve (Pain) - Medial
Internal carotid artery (blood supply) and Abducens nerve (lateral eye movement) - twist around it
What is the effect of growth of the tumour in the pituitary?
- Visual field loss
- Double vision and pain
- Eye compressive problems
What is the cause of hypopituitarism?
Commonly as a result of a pituitary adenoma Rarer causes are: -Radiation therapy -Inflammatory disease -Head injury
What is the deficiency of all anterior pituitary hormones called? Which hormones are affected first?
Panhypopituitarism
- GH
- LH/FSH
How is deficiency in growth hormone tested?
-Check response to hypoglycaemic stress
Growth hormone goes up in hypoglycaemia
How is an excess in GH tested?
-Suppress with glucose load
Growth hormone should decrease
What the indications of Gonadotropin deficiency?
- Lack of libido
- Infertility
- Oligomenorrhea or Amenorrhea in women of reproductive age
- Impotence in men
What is the classical change in appearance for Cushing disease?
- Round pink face (moon shaped)
- Abdominal obesity
- Skinny and weak arms and legs
- Thin skin and easy bruising
- Red/Purple stretch marks on abdomen
- High blood pressure
- Hyperglycaemia
- Osteoporosis
- Buffalo hump
What is the cause of diabetes insipidus?
Lack of vasopressin(ADH) so aqua porin channels are not opened so water isn’t reabsorbed so increased urine.
Can be cranial (pituitary) or nephrogenic (kidney)
What are the consequence of untreated Diabetes insipidus?
- Severe dehydration
- Very high sodium levels - reduced consciousness, coma and death
What is a prolactinoma?
Prolactin secreting tumour . The larger the tumour the higher the prolactin
What does hyperprolactinaemia in women cause?
- Menstrual disturbance
- Fertility problems
- Galactorrhea
- Hard breast tissue
What does hyperprolactinaemia in men cause?
- Usually presented later due to lack of periods
- Usually larger tumour
- Symptoms of low testosterone are not specific (Loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction)
- May present with mass symptoms such as visual loss
Why is hypogonadism caused by the hyperprolactinaemia?
Higher level of dopamine (PIH) in the hypothalamus which inhibits GnRH secretion from the hypothalamus therefore FSH and LH secretion from anterior pituitary.
What is the treatment for prolactinoma?
Drugs such as Cabergoline and Bromocriptine. Not treated with surgery.
What are the causes of hyperprolactinaemia?
- Pregnancy
- Suckling
- Stress
- Exercise
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
What situation of hyperprolactinaemia requires surgery?
Rare case where the prolactin increases due to disinhibition by dopamine as a result of a pituitary tumour blocking the secretion of dopamine. This may also inactivate ACTH or LH/FSH
What is marasmus?
A type of protein energy malnutrition common in children under 5.
What are the indications of marasmus?
- Emaciated with obvious signs of muscle wasting
- Loss of body fat with no oedema
- Hair is thin and dry.
- Diarrhoea is common
- Anaemia may be present
What is kwashiorkor?
A condition commonly seen in children who have a diet with low protein content and some carbohydrates. Typically with occurs in young children
How does kwashiorkor result in oedema?
There is insufficient amino acid for the liver to make a normal level of blood proteins such as albumin so the plasma oncotic pressure drops increasing net flow of fluid out of the vessel into the interstitium.
What are the signs of kwashiorkor?
- Apathetic
- Lethargic
- Anorexic
- Generalised oedema
- Abdomen distended due to hepatomegaly or ascites
What are the presentations of Type 1 diabetes?
Symptoms
- Polyuria : excess urine production. Loss of isosmotic reabsorption at the end of the proximal nephron so extra glucose remain in the tubule which means less water is also reabsorbed into blood so excess urine.
- Polydipsia : due to excess water loss
- Weight loss : fat and protein metabolism
Patient
- Usually young
- Presence of ketones
- Elevated venous plasma glucose
How can type 1 diabetes be diagnosed?
-Measured by plasma glucose levels. It is elevated due to lack of glucose.