Malaborption

Question 1

Causes of malabsorption.

Answer 1

iatrogenic;
- short gut syndrome
- gastrectomy 
- radiation 
infiltrative;
- amyloidosis 
inflammatory;
- crohn's
- coeliac disease
infective;
- HIV
- giardia lamblia
- tropical sprue
impaired motility
- systemic sclerosis
- diabetes (neuropathy)
chronic pancreatitis 
cystic fibrosis 
whiles disease 
lactose intolerence

Question 2

what are possible features of malabsorption in a patient?

Answer 2

vitamin deficiencies;

• vitamin A = night blindness
• vitamin B12/folate = anaemia, loss of JPS and vibration sense
• vitamin D, Ca, Mg = osteomalacia
• vitamin K = increased INR
• thiamine = dementia/memory loss
• niacin = dermatitis, unexplained heart failure

fatigue (iron deficiency or vit B12/folate deficiency anaemia)

diarrhoea
steatorrhoea
weight loss
abdominal pain ,bloating , flatulence

Question 3

what initial screening tests would you carry out if you suspected a patient had malabsorption?

Answer 3

FBC 
red cell indices 
Ca
Mg
vitamin D 
albumin 
ferritin 
vitamin B12 and folate 
cholesterole 

sudan III stain (? steattorhoea)