Malabsorption Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is malabsorption
defective mucosal absorption
caused by defective luminal digestin
mucosal disease
structural absorptional problem
What are the common causes of malbsorption
Coeliac disease
Crohn’s disease
Post infectious Biliary Obstruction
Cirrhosis
What are some of the uncommon causes of malabsorption
Pancreatic cancer Parasites Bacterial overgrowth Drugs Short bowel (including resections)
What are malabsorptive states
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
Vitamins and Minerals
What are the two processes that can go wrong in protein malabsorption
Digestive (failure in enzyme secretion) or absorptive (coeliac or short bowel)
What are the 3 fat digestion and absorption states
Digestive
Absorptive
Post absorptive (delivery to tissues)
What is the most uncommon type of malabsorption
Carbohydrate
What 3 types of vitamins might be related to vitamin malabsorption
B12
Folic Acid (alcoholic, celiac disease)
Fat soluble vitamins (ADEK)
What is vitamin K important for and what might a patient present with ?
K important for clotting - present with bruising and bleeding)
What are other minerals that may be malabsorped
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
Zinc
Scalloping of the folds in the intestine
Coeliac disease
How do we diagnosis coeliac disease?
IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase
What is Whipple’s disease
Infectious agent and causes an increase in the frequency of HLA-B27
How do we treat giardia lamblia
Treat with metronidazole for 1 week
When should you suspect malabsorption?
In known disease states of the pancreas, stomach or bowel
Past medical history might include
Gastric or small bowel resection
Gastrointestinal Diversion
Radiation Exposure
Bleeding gums
Scurvy - lack of vitamin C
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Coeliac’s disease
Spooning of the nails
Iron deficiency
