Malabsorption

Question 1

What is malabsorption characterised by?

Answer 1

• Diarrhoea
• Steatorrhoea
• Weight loss

Question 2

What are the 3 main categories that malabsorption can be divided into?

Answer 2

• Intestinal causes of malabsorption
• Pancreatic causes of malabsorption
• Biliary causes of malabsorption

Question 3

What are some intestinal causes of malabsorption?

Answer 3

• Coeliac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Tropical sprue
  
  • Tropical sprue is a malabsorption disease commonly found in the tropical regions, marked with abnormal flattening of the villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine. It differs significantly from coeliac sprue.
• Whipple’s disease (Tropheryma whipplei - bacterial infection of the small bowel that gets worse and worse if not treated)
• Giardiasis (>7 days incubation)
• Brush border enzyme deficiencies (e.g. lactase insufficiency)

Question 4

What are some pancreatic causes of malabsorption?

Answer 4

• Chronic pancreatitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Pancreatic cancer

Question 5

What are some biliary causes of malabsorption?

Answer 5

• Biliary obstruction
• Primary biliary cirrhosis

Question 6

What are some other causes of malabsorption?

Answer 6

• Bacterial overgrowth (e.g. systemic sclerosis, diverticulae, blind loop)
• Short bowel syndrome
• Lymphoma