Abdominal Key

Alcoholic Liver Disease (Am J Gastro 1998;93:2022-36) DEFINITION: Clinical spectrum includes fatty liver (occurs in days & is reversible), alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis; Only 20% of alcoholics develop the…

Acute Liver Failure (Fulminant Hepatic Failure) (Hepatology 2005;41:1179-97) DEFINITION: Acute hepatic disease + coagulopathy (INR >1.5) + encephalopathy (without a history of prior liver disease, except Wilson’s & AIH) Fulminant…

Abscess of Liver DEFINITION: Two types of liver abscess; Areas affected by either: Right lobe only (65%), Both lobes (30%), Left lobe only (5%) Pyogenic, usually arise from intraabdominal infections…

α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency DEFINITION: Deficiency in alpha-1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) characterized by liver and/or lung injury Other inheritable forms of liver disease: Hemochromatosis, Wilson’s EPIDEMIOLOGY: 1 in 2,000 is homozygous and 1 in…

Potpourri IBD PEARLS Outpatient: Always confirm the diagnosis: how was IBD diagnosed, particular bowel location involved (colon vs. small bowel), response to any prior therapy, medication use (NSAIDs), tobacco use,…

Ulcerative Colitis (Am J Gastroenterol. 2004;99:1371-1385.; Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1582-1592.; N Engl J Med. 2002; 347:417-429) DEFINITION: Idiopathic inflammation of the colonic mucosa (as opposed to Crohn’s which is transmural and any…

Microscopic & Radiation Colitis MICROSCOPIC COLITIS (Am J Gastroenterol 2004, 94:451-65) Definition: Idiopathic colitides with mild inflammatory changes diagnosed only by colorectal biopsy and thus only microscopically Microscopic colitis is…

Crohn’s Disease (Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;18:263-77. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:635-43. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:417-29) DEFINITION: Idiopathic or nonspecific transmural inflammation of the any segment of the GI tract…

Potpourri FECAL FAT Best screening test: Qualitative with Sudan stain is really only valuable as a screening test for those patients excreting >20 g/day Best quantitative test: 72 hr stool…