Week 11 Gastrointestinal Diseases Flashcards
Name the oral cavity disorders.
Cavities
Gingivitis
Xerostomia
Esophageal disorders
Atresia/Fistula
Varices
Reflux Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Barrett’s Esophagus
Stomach disorders
Gastritis (Acute vs. Chronic)
- NSAIDS
- H. Pylori
- Autoimmune
Intestinal disorders
Duodenal ulcer
Obstructions
Celiac Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Acute (infectious)
- Chronic (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
Hemorrhoids
What are dental caries?
Cavities
- oral bacteria convert sugar to acid (S. mutans implicated in plaque formation)
- plaque on teeth is a biofilm
- acids destroy enamel and dentin of the teeth
- hydroxyapatite crystals are solubilized
- fluorapatite crystals are more resistant to solubilization by acid
Describe the clinical aspect of cavities.
- cells that make enamel are lost after tooth erupts (enamel cannot be regenerated, but you can regenerate dentin)
- exposes pulp and nerves to cold/heat from food
What is treatment and prevention for cavities
Treatment: fill cavity
Prevention: cleaning
- If cavity has progressed through dentin, it will expose pulp, which has lots of BVs and nerves
What is Gingivitis?
Inflammation of the gingiva
- oral mucosa immediately around teeth (often parakeratinized- keratinized)
What is the cause of gingivitis?
oral bacteria forming a biofilm (plaque) on the teeth
- plaque beneath the gum line leads to gingival infection (gingivitis)
What are the consequences of gingivitis?
- gingival erythema and edema (redness and swelling)
- bleeding
- changes in contour
- loss of soft tissue around teeth (soft tissue anchors it to bone)
- periodontitis (eventual loss of teeth)
Name the 3 major salivary glands and their predominant type of gland.
- Parotid (serous)
- in front of ears and along jaw line - Submandibular (mixed gland)
- along floor of mouth, but near jaw
- predominantly serous
- some mucous - Sublingual (mixed gland)
- immediately underneath tongue
- predominantly mucous
- some serous
Describe the components of saliva
Proteins
- alpha-amylase to break down carbs
- lysozyme to attack bacteria in the mouth
- saliva very important for protective function
Glycoproteins
- mucins (lubrication)
- conjugated antibodies
- released by mucus cells
Ions/Water
- including bicarbonate ion (buffering)
- buffer some of the acid in the mouth
IgA
- polymerized
- produced by plasma cells around the acini
What is Xerostomia?
Dry Mouth!
- decrease in saliva production by salivary glands
- usually side effect of medication
-feature of autoimmune disorder (Sjogren Syndrome)
-major complication of radiation therapy
What are the symptoms of Xerostomia?
Dry mouth
Atrophy of tongue papilla with fissuring and ulcerations
What are the complications of xerostomia?
- increased rates of dental caries
- increased risk of candidiasis (oral thrush)
- dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- dysarthria (difficulty speaking)
Treatment for xerostomia.
- finish meds causing it or switch meds
- address Sjogren syndrome
- pylocarpine to stimulate saliva production through muscarinic chononergic receptors
Describe esophageal development.
Trachea and esophagus develop as one tube
- trachea buds off foregut (lung buds)
- must separate (failure = fistula)
During development, esophagus fills in
- recanalizes to be open tube
- failure = atresia
Associated with defects in neighboring structures
- heart defects
- genitourinary malformations
- neurologic disease
This is all relatively early in development
What is atresia?
Lack or limitation of space or lumen (usually developmental)
- results in mechanical obstruction of space or tube
In the esophagus, most commonly associated with fistula
Symptoms:
- regurgitation while feeding
- incompatible with life unless repaired (surgery)
Treatment: surgery
- feeding tube will not be able to reach stomach
What is fistula?
Abnormal opening between tubes (failure of separation)
Symptoms:
- aspiration, suffocation, pneumonia
- severe fluid/electrolyte imbalances
- struggling to breathe while eating
Treatment: surgery
- feeding tube may be able to reach stomach (make sure it is not placed in lungs)
Tracheoesophageal fistula with atresia is the most common congenital defect
Describe cardiovascular esophageal disorder.
Secondary to Portal Hypertension
- reduced/blocked blood flow in the liver increases pressure w/in portal vein
- portal vein drains from GI tract–> increased pressure along GI tract
Increased pressure causes distension of BVs
- channels form to relieve pressure
- esophagus is location of potential connection b/c highly vascular
What are esophageal varices?
Distension of BVs increases likelihood of rupture
- walls thin as pressure increases
- remember hypertension
Rupture can cause fatal hemorrhage–> patient will vomit massive amounts of blood
- even if patient survives, loss of liver function will cause damage that can seriously compromise function of the liver
Describe pathology of esophageal varices.
- thinning of mucosa and thinning of BV walls that can rupture
- upon endoscopy, walls of esophagus should be relatively smooth, but instead you see these vessels that are squiggly or you may see large pseudo-polyps forming
- these are massively distended BVs
What is the treatment for esophageal varices?
- trying to treat the liver disorder to reduce blood
- surgically remove varices to reduce pressure
What is reflux esophagitis?
- movement of stomach or pancreatic contents into esophagus
- damage to esophageal mucosa produces inflammation
- clinically known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Symptoms of GERD
- heartburn: recurrent burning sensation in the chest due to mucosal injury
- worsens after ingestion of foods that decrease tone of lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
- recurrence of disease produces additional damage
- scarring affects tonicity of LES- increases risk of further heartburn
What is the lower esophageal sphincter and what does it do?
Tonically contracted smooth muscle ring
- prevents backflow of stomach contents
- relaxes during swallowing to allow food into stomach
Responds to neurotransmitters
- nitric oxide
- vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
- also controlled by vagus nerve, which participates in swallowing
What are the causes of reflux esophagitis or GERD?
- foods (chocolate, coffee, peppermint) and other factors
- impaired reflexive esophageal contractions after LES relaxation
- increased gastric volume/pressure
- increased acid production
- gastric obstruction - alkaline injury
- hiatal hernia: part of stomach above diaphragm; LES falls to the side, putting additional pressure on it
- increases risk that LES will not maintain normal contraction
Describe the mucosal inflammation of the esophagus.
- acid damages epithelium and underlying tissue (esophagus is not meant to resist acid damage)
- infiltration of granulocytes
- intraepithelial eosinophils
- neutrophils are sign of more advanced disease - development of bleeding ulcers and exudate upon erosion of mucosa
- edema
- hemorrhage
Describe the progression of GERD/ reflux esophagitis.
Initial lesion produces scarring that increases likelihood of additional reflux b/c of damage to LES
Can produce:
- stricture as you get more scarring
- pain
- obstruction
- perforation can develop as acid eats away at the wall of the esophagus
- Barrett’s Esophagus–> pre-cancerous lesion
What is Barrett’s Esophagus?
Example of metaplasia
- esophageal epithelium changes from stratified squamous to columnar with substantial numbers of goblet cells
- goblet cells produce mucus that neutralizes the acid causing the damage
What is the treatment for GERD?
Mostly trying to prevent further damage to esophagus
- limit intake of foods that cause issues
- drugs to inhibit acid production
- surgery or other treatments to relieve gastric obstruction
- collapsed balloon to relieve pressure on LES and reduce esophageal reflux due to stricture and hiatal hernia
What is gastritis?
Inflammation of the stomach
- results from mucosal injury
List the types of gastritis.
Acute
- neutrophils in lesion
Chronic
- many different immune cells present
Gastropathy
- limited immune response
- visible injury and repair