OnlineMedEd: Gastroenterology - "Malabsorbtion" Flashcards
What nutrients are absorbed by the duodenum?
- Iron
* Calcium
What nutrients are absorbed in the terminal ileum?
- Fat
- Bile salts
- Fat-soluble vitamins
Explain the utility of D-xylose.
The first test to evaluate malabsorption is the fat challenge (a 100-gram bolus of fat to assess for steatorrhea). Once that comes back positive, you need to determine whether the problem is with the enzymes or with the intestinal epithelium. D-xylose is already broken down to its absorbable unit, so if that is not absorbed then you know it is a problem with the epithelium and not the enzymes.
Celiac causes malabsorption by ____________.
blunting the intestinal villi
Rash and malabsorptive symptoms?
Dermatitis herpetiformis and celiac sprue
Why can’t you have a person with suspected celiac eliminate gluten as a diagnostic tool?
It can take up to four months of gluten avoidance to return to baseline.
___________ deficiency can cause nystagmus.
Vitamin E
Review the constellation of symptoms seen in Whipple’s disease.
- Malabsorption
- Arthralgia
- Cardiac involvement (not sure what)
- Lymphadenopathy
How is Whipple’s treated?
•Bactrim
or
• Doxycycline