NZ Gastro Flashcards
Pathophysiology of IBD
Multifactorial disease:
- Genetics: approx 200 susceptibility genes identified
- Identical twins: risk 30-35% - Environmental factors:
- Smoking (protective for UC, increased risk for CD)
- Appendicectomy (reduced risk of developing UC)
- Breast feeding - conflicting evidence
- NSAID use and infection - increases risk - Dysbiosis:
- Overactive immune response to normal gut flora
- Putative infectious agents: TB, listeria, shigella, yersinia, Bacteroides vulgatus, measles, E. coli subtypes
Incidence of IBD
Prevalence: 1 in 400 in general population with 20-25% in childhood
Current trend: earlier childhood presentation, CD more common in paediatric population
UC: M=F, CD: M>F
Early onset IBD (<5yo)
Need to rule out:
Immunodeficiency
- IL10 deficiency
- Chronic granulomatous disease
Ix:
- Neutrophil function
- Lymphocyte subset
- Immunoglobulin level
- Genetic panel for monogenic causes
Growth failure in IBD
Weight loss
27% Wt <3rd centile
13% Ht <3rd centile
Delayed puberty
Secondary to:
- Decreased oral intake (anorexia, pain, increased stooling)
- Chronic inflammatory state (catabolic)
- Malabsorption
Long term height outcomes in IBD
Mean 2.4cm deficit in adulthood
19% >8cm below expected from mid-parental height
Ht Z-score inversely proportional to delay in diagnosis
IBD-related arthropathy
- Peripheral arthropathy:
- Type 1: pauci-articular, large joints, asymmetrical, MIRRORS disease activity, HLA-B27, HLAB35 and HLA-DR related
- Type 2: polyarticular, small joints, INDEPENDENT of disease activity, may be associated with uveitis - Axial arthropathy:
- 5-10%, ankylosing spondylitis or sacroiliac joint arthritis, independent of gut disease activity
Faecal calprotectin
Neutrophil derived inflammatory marker
- 24kDa dimer of calcium binding proteins - present in cytoplasm of neutrophils
- Not degraded by intestinal enzymes or bacteria
Highly sensitive marker for inflammation, but nonspecific
Falsely elevated with NSAID use
IBD work up
- Inflammatory markers (ESR/CRP)
- FBC: thrombophilia, anaemia
- Albumin
- Faecal calprotectin
- TMPT genotype
- Measles and varicella serology
- Quantiferon Gold
- PORTO Criteria:
- -> Upper GI endoscopy, ileocolonoscopy, small bowel MRI
UC Histopathology
Loss of normal vascularity, erythema, ulceration, contact bleeding, friability, pseudopolyps (secondary to chronic inflammation), increased inflammatory cells in lamina propria, crypt abscesses, crypt irregularity
CD Histopathology
Non-necrotising granulomas, transmural inflammation, fissuring
Crohn’s: Induction therapy
- Enteral nutrition
- Enteral nutrition as effective as steroids in inducing remission (70% of cases)
- MOA: modulating gut microbiota in 8 weeks, prebiotic properties
- Benefits: improves growth delay and BMD, enables catch up vaccinations
- Progress: in responsive pts, will improve by ~14 days –> slow reduction in inflammatory process and weight gain
- Options: elemental vs polymeric
- Duration: exclusive enteral nutrition for 8 weeks (yuck)
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition in CD: Cochrane Review
- EEN remission rates from 20-84.2%
- Protein and fat source - no difference in outcome
- No significant difference between polymeric vs elemental
- Site of disease: not enough evidence to favour one particular site, may not respond as well if extensive colonic disease
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition in CD: In Practice
- 110 children treated so far with 8 weeks EEN
- Requires intensive dietetic support
- Clinical remission in 79.2%
- No clear phenotypic variation
- Significant improvement in ESR and CRP
- Mean weight gain of 7kg
- Wt improvement maintained to 6mth
EEN feed options
Elemental
- Amino acid-based feeds
- High osmolality
- Poor palatability
- 1kCal/mL (large volumes need to be consumed)
Polymeric
- Whole protein
- Less expensive
- Improved palatibility
- 1-1.5kCal/mL
TMPT deficiency and Azathioprine
1: 300 have TMPT deficiency (homozygotes)
- Shunts 6-MP to form more 6-TGN (thioguanine nucleotide)
- Significant bone marrow suppression
Homozygotes: consider alternative immunomodulator or significant dose adjustment
Heterozygotes: requires dose adjustment and close monitoring of FBC and 6-TGN levels
Need to measure TPMT level and ascertain genotype at time of IBD diagnosis
- Lag period of 3 months before Aza becomes effective –> can commence Aza therapy whilst awaiting TMPT genotype
Side effects of azathioprine
- Myelosuppression - dose dependent
- Pancreatitis
- Infection risk: VZV, EBV
- Hepatitis
- Malignancy: 4-fold risk of lymphoma
- Susceptibility to sun-related skin damage
Therapeutic monitoring of azathioprine
- Safety: FBC, LFTs, amylase, 6TG, 6MMP
2. Efficacy: 6TG
Predicting need for azathioprine therapy in IBD
Following induction of remission, majority require immunosuppression to maintain remission
- 75% of CD and 50% of UC by 2yrs
- 85% CD by 5yo
CD: severe colitis, requirement of IV steroids, oesophageal disease
UC: requirement of IV steroids
Indication for methotrexate in IBD
Intolerance or unresponsive to thiopurines
TMPT heterozygotes
Malignancy risk associated with infliximab
Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma
- 76 cases described
- All received concurrent Aza therapy
- High mortality
General complications of liver disease
- Ascending cholangitis
- Nutritional deficiency
- Fat soluble vitamin + zinc deficiency
- Portal hypertension
- Hypersplenism - thrombocytopenia
- Varices - Synthetic liver dysfunction
Management of hepatitis B to prevent neonatal acquisition
- Pretreat mother antenatally to reduce viral load (tenofovir)
- HBIG and vaccination at birth + vaccination at 6wk/3mo/5mo (97% protection)
- Vaccination at birth provides 65-95% protection - After 5mo vaccination, reassess infant: HBsAg and anti-HBs
2-3% acquire Hep B despite above measures
2-3% do not respond to vaccine
First line agent for hepatitis B
Entecavir:
- Oral agent
- Nucleotide analogue - effective at suppression of viral replication
- Well tolerated
- Cons: unresolved question about length of treatment
NAFLD - pathophysiology
Excessive caloric intake + insufficient energy expenditure
- Increased adiposity (increased fat deposition in liver)
- Hyperinsulinism –> need more insulin to get glucose into cells, lipogenesis
- Fat causes inflammation –> secondary to metabolic stress and mitochondrial dysfunction
KASAI procedure (hepatoportoenterostomy)
Palliative procedure
Success depends on:
1. Age at operation
- <30 days - best outcome, longer transplant free survival
2. Experience level of surgeon (>5 Kasai procedures/year)
Percentage requiring liver tranplantation in biliary atresia
80-90%
Approx 40% of these transplants are required in the first 2 years post-Kasai procedure
Contraindication to Kasai procedure
Frank liver failure
Complications of Kasai procedure
- Ascending cholangitis
- Liver and biliary flow directly exposed to intestine and its contents
- Associated with worse outcome - Portal hypertension
- Growth failure
- Hepatopulmonary syndrome
Familial adenomatosis polyposis - risk of malignancy
Average age of onset of polyps = 16yrs
100% develop malignancy
If no prophylactic colectomy, average age of onset of colorectal Ca is 39yrs
Fibrosing colonopathy - CF
Colonic strictures with mucosal and submucosal fibrosis, destruction of muscularis mucosa
Increased risk with high dose pancreatic enzyme replacement
Most common causes of pancreatic insufficiency
- Cystic fibrosis
- Syndromes
- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (acinar cell hypoplasia, intact ducts; skeletal abN)
- Pearson Syndrome (pancreatic cell atrophy w/ fibrosis –> reduced acinar and duct function)
- Johanson-Blizzard Syndrome (acinar cell hypoplasia, intact ducts; no bone marrow abN)
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome increases risk of…
AML
Benefits of fish-oil based lipids
- Less inflammatory
- Increased antioxidant activity
- Decrease phytosterols
- Increase biliary flow
- Decrease de novo lipogenesis
RF for intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD)
- Prematurity and low birth wt
- Primary GI disease e.g. NEC
- Lack of enteral nutrition
- Catheter-related bloodstream infections
- Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
- Prolonged TPN
- Excessive IV glucose, amino acids or omega-6 fatty acids
Management of IFALD
- Cycling of TPN - introduce breaks between therapy if pt able to cope nutritionally (TPN wean is most important)
- Urso (increase enterohepatic circulation)
- Advancement of enteral feeding
- Prompt treatment of sepsis
- Ethanol and Ab line locks
- Rotating Ab prophylaxis for SBBOG
GLP-2 analogue: Teduglutide
Trophic hormone secrted by enteroendocrine L cells (ileum and R colon) - increases villous height and serum citrulline levels
Result: reduces TPN requirements in pts with short gut syndrome
Clinical trials in paediatrics underway
Intestinal failure definition
Anatomical loss of >75% of expected small bowel length for gestational age
OR
TPN dependence >42 days
Reduction in gut function, such that IV supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth
Aetiology of intestinal failure
- Critical reduction in intestinal mass:
- Short bowel syndrome - Poor tolerance of feeds
- Motility disorders: gastroschisis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, long-segment Hirschprung Disease - Abnormal enterocyte function
- Microvillus inclusion disease, tufting enteropathy - Multisystem disease
- IPEX, mitochondrial disorders, congenital glycosylation defects
Hereditary disorders causing pancreatitis
Candidate gene and genetic linkage studies have identified polymorphisms in:
- Cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1)
- Serine protease inhibitor kazal type 1 (SPINK1)
- CFTR
- Chymotrypsinogen C (CTRC)
- Cathepsin B (CTSB)
- Calcium sensing receptor (CASR)
Treatment for Ascariasis lumbricoides
4 drugs recommended by WHO: 1. Albendazole 2. Levamisole 3. Mebendazole 4. Pyrantel embonate All 4 have a cure rate of >90% in pts with ascariasis
Mycophenolate Mofetil: MOA and SE
Inhibits synthesis of guanosine monophosphate nucleotides, blocks purine synthesis preventing proliferation of T and B cells
SE: diarrhoea, cytopenias, N&V, thrombosis/thrombophebitis in IV formulation
KCal in CHO, protein and fat
4-4-9 rule
CHO: 4cal/gram
Protein: 4cal/gram
Fats: 9cal/gram
Management of DIOS
- Hydration
- Laxatives
- Bowel washout
- Prokinetics
- +/- Surgery
Intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome
Structural: hyperplasia, angiogenesis, bowel dilatation and elongation
Functional: increase transporters, accelerated crypt cell differentiation, slowing transit time, increased nutrient and fluid absorption
Factors that promote enteral autonomy in short bowel syndrome
- Residual small bowel length
- Intact ileocaecal valve
- Primary diagnosis of NEC
- > 50% residual colon
- No small bowel ostomy
- Decreased serum conjugated bilirubin at referral
- Care and follow up at same centre specialising in intestinal rehabilitation
Preventative treatment option for pre-symptomatic siblings with Wilson’s disease (identified on genetic testing)
Zinc supplementation
- Competitive inhibitor of copper, helps displace copper from tissue and increase excretion in urine
- Zn alone is insufficient to treat symptomatic Wilson’s disease
Wilson Disease Treatment
- Penicillamine +/- pyridoxine (Pen causes Vit B6 def)
- Trientene as an alternative if Pen not tolerated
- Zinc supp and low copper diet
- If fulminant liver failure or decomp cirrhosis, liver transplant is necessary
- -> May not ameliorate neurological Sx as Cu deposits in basal ganglia
Splenomegaly with thrombocytopenia can be a manifestation of…
Portal hypertension
Some quirks in investigation result of different liver diseases…
- Wilson disease: low ALP (Cu displaces Zn)
- Autoimmune hepatitis: high total protein due to hypergammaglobulinemia
Antibodies associated with autoimmune hepatitis
Liver: - Type 1: ANA +/- SMA - Type 2: LKM (2a: no hep C, 2b: yes hep C) - Type 3: soluble liver antigen Biliary tree (sclerosing cholangitis) - ANA, SMA, ANCA
Liver conditions that can recur despite liver transplantation
Autoimmune hepatitis