GI including liver Flashcards
(268 cards)
What is IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)?
inflammation of bowel caused by genetics/ environment/ poor immune system. (more common in young adults)
- Crohns - patchy transmural inflammation of gut mucosa affecting any part of GIT
*genetics (NOD2) , M=F,
- Ulcerative colitis- continuous inflammation of superficial mucosa layer from rectum
*genetics (HLA2, HLAB27, p-ANCA)
- directly linked to primary sclerosing cholangitis
Presenting symptoms of IBD (with history)
Crohn’s
- mainly non-bloody diarrhoea
- crampy abdominal pain
- WEIGHT LOSS
- extreme fatigue
UC
- more frequent bloody diarrhoea
- autoimmune: uveitis
- Primry sclerosing cholangitis
BOTH non-bowel related (autoimmune): arthritis, erythema nodosum (red bumps), jaundice (raised bilirubin + ALP)
Examination findings of IBD
UC: usually none but if severe fever, tachycardia, tender/distended abdomen, clubbing, oral ulcers, angular stomatitis, anaemia (visible pallor, conjunctival pallor), jaundice (PSC)
Crohn’s: abdominal tenderness, clubbing, angular stomatitis, skin/joint/eye problems
Investigations + findings of IBD
Bedside:
- Stool microscopy and culture: exclude infective colitis/ GASTROENTERITIS
- Fecal calprotectin from stool sample - sign of non-specific bowel inflammation
Bloods
- FBC - low Hb, high platelets (anaemia= chronic disease) high WCC
- LFTs - low albumin
- High ESR (suggests chronic inflammation) – inflammatory marker
- CRP may be high or normal - inflammatory marker
Imaging:
- AXR: could show evidence of toxic megacolon,
- Erect CXR: if there is a risk of perforation
- Colonoscopy/ flexible sigmoidoscopy + biopsy GOLD STANDARD
How to distinguish between crohns and ulcerative colitis (biopsy/ endoscopy)?
Crohns: non-caseating granulomas, fistulas, strictures, cobblestone appearance
UC: pseudopolyps, continuous inflammation from rectum

Management for Crohn’s
Acute Exacerbation
- Fluid resuscitation, may also be on oral iron
- IV/oral corticosteroids
- 5-ASA analogues (e.g. mesalazine and olsalazine)
- Analgesia
- Parenteral nutrition may be necessary
● Monitor markers of disease activity e.g. fluid balance, ESR, CRP, platelets, Hb
Long-Term
- Corticosteroids (prednisolone/ dexamethosone) - induce remission
- Immunosuppression: using steroid-sparing agents (e.g. azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate) reduces the frequency of relapses
- Anti-TNF agents: (e.g. infliximab and adalimumab)
*Can try liquid therapy diet for Crohn’s/ small kids
Lifestyle changes advised for Crohns
- stop smoking (but smoking better in UC)
- low fibre diet
Management for UC
Acute:
- Corticosteroids- hydrocortisone (for SEVERE acute flare ups)
- 5-ASA analogues - decreases the frequency of relapses (useful for MILD to moderate disease)
- Immunosuppresion (azothioprine)- maintain remission if multiple exacerbations
- Biological therapies (anti-TNF therapies)
- Surgery=> more for UC - Proctocolectomy with ileostomy – surgical removal of colon, rectum and anal canal
mechanism + side effects of steroids (prednisolone)
glucocorticoid receptors interact with specific DNA sequences to increase anti-inflammatory gene produces + reduce pro-inflammatory products.
- short term: weight gain, Cushing syndrome, mood swings,
- long term: diabetes, adrenal suppression, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, thin skin
mehcanism + side effects of immunosupressants (azathioprine)
reduce DNA/RNA production of lymphocytes/ interleukins => suppresses immune system => anti-inflammatory
Side effects:
- nausea, flu-like
- bone marrow suppression
- pancreatitis (raised amylase)
- hepatotoxicity
- increased cancer risk
- increased hypersensitivity => skin rashes
mechanism and side effects of biologics (anti-TNFa)
monoclonal antibodies against TNFa which reduce disease activity by reducing neutrophil accumulation + granuloma formation and cause cytotoxicity to CD4+ T cells.
Side effects:
- redness, itching, bruising, pain, or swelling at the injection site
- headache, fever, rashes
prognosis for IBD
IBD patients should have a colonoscopy every 5 years as they are at increased risk of colorectal cancer
Crohns - chronic relapsing condition
● 2/3 of patients will require surgery at some stage
● 2/3 of these patients require more than 1 operation
Ulcerative colitis - normal life expectancy
complications of IBD
- fistulas (narrow passage connecting organs together)
- malnutrition
- bowel obstruction
- colorectal cancer
- intestinal perforation/ rupture
what is coeliac disease?
autoimmune disease triggered by eating gluten. T cells attack small intestine so can’t absorb nutrients.
How to diagnose coeliac disease from history?
=> diarrhoea + weight loss
- STEATORRHEA (fatty stools)
- fatigue
- bloating/ gas
- abdominal pain
- nausea/ vomiting
Investigations for coeliac disease
bloods:
- FBC (low Hb/ low ferritin/ low b12) ANAEMIA
- anti-transglutaminase antibody test
=> if high level of suspicion/ positive AB test => duodenal biopsy when on gluten (atrophied tissue)
Management for coeliac disease
- lifelong gluten free diet
- can prescribe gluten-free food (biscuits/flour/bread/pasta) - monitor response and repeat tests
complications of coeliac disease (if untreated)
- anaemia
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- osteoporosis/ osteopenia
- infertility
- hyposplenism (give them flu jabs)
- increased cancer risk
prognosis of coeliac disease
if treated => very good
untreated => fatal
Define IBS
- chronic, relapsing disorder of lower GI tract with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain/ discomfort >6 months
+ altered stool passage
+ abdominal bloating
+ passage of mucus
+ symptoms worse on eating
causes of IBS
- environmental
- genetic
Trigger symptoms:
- enteric infection
- GI inflammation (secondary to IBD)
- dietary factors (alcohol, caffeine, spicy/fatty foods)
- Antibiotics
- stress/ anxiety/ depression (affect brain-gut axis)
presenting symptoms of IBS
- >6 months colicky abdominal pain (pain relieved on defecation)
- >6 months bloating
- >6 months change in bowel habit (altered stool consistency, rectal mucus)
- symptoms worsened by eating
- other symptoms: lethargy, nausea, back pain, headache, bladder problems, fecal incontinence
Examination signs of IBS
usually normal
- distended abdomen + mildly tender on palpation in illiac fossa
Investigations + findings for IBS
*usually diagnosed by exclusion + history
- Bloods (FBC=> anaemia, ESR/ CRP => inflammatory markers) TFTs
- Coeliac serology (anti-transglutaminase antibodies - exclude coeliac disease)
- Stool microscopy, sensitivity and culture (exclude infection)
- USS (exclude gallstone disease)
- Sigmoidoscopy



