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