Are patients with coeliac disease recommended to self medicate with OTC vitamin and mineral supplements?
No. Although recommended daily intake of Calcium is 1000mg and Vit D 10ug if this is not achieved through diet.
What are coeliac patients at increased risk of?
Malabsorption
Vitamin and mineral deficiency - could increase the risk of osteoporosis
Risk of OS causes need for active treatment of bone disease and should be part of ongoing treatment.
What is diverticular disease?
What conditions might its symptoms overlap with?
Diverticula (sac-like protrusions of mucosa through the muscular colonic wall) cause intermittent lower abdominal pain with constipation, diarrhoea, or occasional large rectal bleeds. in the absence of inflammation or infection.
Diff D: IBS, colitis, and malignancy
What is the treatment for diverticular disease
What is not recommended in uncomplicated diverticular disease?
Antibiotics
unless the patient presents with signs of infection/immunocompromised
Nsaids or opioids
What is the treatment for complicated diverticular disease?
Hospital admission, IV antibacterials covering gram negative and anaerobes
Bowel rest
True or false: There is sufficient evidence to justify the role of fibre, rifaximin, antispasmodics, mesalazine, and probiotics in the prevention or treatment of diverticulitis.
False
What is the advantage of the newer aminosalicylates (mesalazine, balsalazide, olsalazine) over sulfasalazine?
Avoids the sulfonamide-related side effects of sulfasalazine; NOT DOSE RELATED: male infertility (reversible), haemolytic anaemia, hypersensitivity, bone marrow suppression, hepatitis and DRUG DOSE RELATED: n+v, dyspepsia, malaise, headache
5-ASA however still causes same SE as sulfasalazine such as blood dyscrasias and lupus like syndrome
Sulfasalazine is a combination of what two compounds?
5-ASA and sulfapyridine
Sulfapyridine acts only as a carrier to the colonic site of action but still causes side effects
What compound is mesalazine?
What is Balsalazide?
What is olsalazine?
5-ASA
prodrug of 5-ASA
dimer of 5-ASA
Non operative management of acute Diverticulitis FAILS or diffuse peritonitis requires ..
URGENT sigmoid colectomy is required
What are extraintestinal manifestations? Crohns
When people with IBD develop conditions affecting the joints, eyes or skin. e.g. arthritis, osteoporosis
When would you add in additional treatment (on top of steroid monotherapy) in a Crohn’s disease exacerbation?
What would you add?
2 or more inflammatory exacerbations in 12 months, or if the steroid dose cannot be reduced
Azathioprine or mercaptopurine
Is mercaptopurine licensed in severe UC and CD?
No
Mercaptopurine can be added but unlicensed
What test do you need to do before starting someone on azathioprine or mercaptopurine?
TPMT levels
If activity is deficient, it may not be suitable
What monoclonal antibodies are licensed for Crohn’s?
Adalimumab
Infliximab- active fistulating CD
Vedolizumab - rec for mod-sev active crohns disease when other two unsuitable/CI
2. What would be second line and when would you use this?
2. Methotrexate if the patient required it to induce remission, or if azathioprine/mercaptopurine is unsuitable
Should steroids be used for the maintenance of remission for Crohn’s?
No- only to induce remission
What can be used to manage Crohn’s associated diarrhoea?
Loperamide, codeine phosphate, colestyramine
What antibiotics can be used (alone or in combination) to improve symptoms of fistulating Crohn’s?
Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin (unlicensed)
If metronidazole is given for fistulating Crohn’s, how long for and what are the associated risks?
1 month (no longer than 3) due to risk of peripheral neuropathy
What is used to control the inflammation in fistulating Crohn’s disease (and continued for maintenance)? How long should they be on this for?
Azathioprine or mercaptopurine (unlicensed) or infliximab. Infliximab should be used after ensuring that all sepsis is actively draining.
At least 1 year