Laboratory Tests of Gastrointestinal Disease

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this session the reader should be able to:

  • Discuss the process for measurement of basal gastric acid output, peak gastric acid output, and maximum gastric acid output
  • Describe differerences in gastric acid output between younger and older people, men and women, patients with duodenal ulcer and normal people, patients with gastric ulcer and normal people, patients with jejunal ulcer and normal people, and patients with gastric carcinoma and normal people
  • Describe conditions in which achlorhydria is found
  • Discuss causes of increased and decreased serum gastrin concentrations
  • Discuss the laboratory workup of suspected Helicobacter pylori infection (biopsy, 13Cbreath test, IgG antibody)
  • Discuss the causes of general malabsorption/maldigestion
  • Describe specific malabsorption/maldigestion defects
  • Describe common biochemical abnormalities seen in malabsorption
  • Discuss the use of the D-xylose absorption test in the workup of malabsorption
  • Discuss the use of the disaccharidase test in the workup of malabsorption
  • Discuss the use of the breath hydrogen test in the workup of malabsorption
  • Discuss the use of the fecal fat measurement in the workup of malabsorption
  • Discuss the use of the 14C breath test in the workup of malabsorption
  • Describe the use of endomysial antibody in the laboratory workup of suspected celiac disease
  • Describe the Schilling test for the laboratory workup of suspected pernicious anemia
  • Describe the sweat test for the laboratory workup of suspected cystic fibrosis
  • Discuss the signs and symptoms of extreme malabsorption

KEY TERMS

Achlorhydria - Literally “without hydrochloric acid.” Refers to lack of acid production by the stomach.

Breath tests - Tests that detect abnormalities of CO2 and H2 elimination in the breath due to abnormalities of digestion, absorption, or bacterial overgrowth.

Celiac disease (Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy) - a malabsorption syndrome precipitated by the ingestion of gluten-containing foods, leading to destructive interaction of gluten with intestinal mucosa

Chyme - The semifluid, homogenous, creamy or gruel-like material produced by gastric digestion of food; also called chymus.

Crohn’s disease - A chronic inflammatory disease affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus.

Cystic fibrosis - a genetic disorder characterized by widespread dysfunction of exocrine glands, characterized by chronic pulmonary disease, pancreatic deficiency and high levels of electrolytes in sweat

Dumping syndrome - Condition in which, after gastric surgery, hyperosmolar chyme is “dumped” into the small intestine, causing rapid hypovolemia and hemoconcentration.

Fecal “occult” blood - The presence of blood in the feces in concentrations in excess of 2 mL per day, suggesting the possibility of malignant or premalignant lesions in the colon.

GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gluten - A protein found in wheat and wheat products.

Helicobacter pylori - A bacterium found in the mucous layer of the stomach that has been implicated in the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers.

Malabsorption - An abnormality of the small intestine that causes a disorder of the absorptive process.

Maldigestion - An abnormality of the digestive process due to dysfunction of the pancreas or small intestine.

Postgastrectomy syndrome - A syndrome that occurs after surgery for peptic ulcer disease and includes the dumping syndrome, diarrhea, maldigestion, weight loss, anemia, bone disease, and gastric cancer.

Steatorrhea - A condition of excessive fat in feces (>7 g/day).

Ulcerative colitis - A recurrent inflammatory disease of the large bowel that is also known as inflammatory bowel disease.

Zollinger-Ellison (Z-E) syndrome - A condition resulting from a gastrin-secreting tumor (gastrinoma) of the pancreatic islet cells that results in an overproduction of gastric acid, leading to fulminant ulceration of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and jejunum.

BACKGROUND/SIGNIFICANCE

The GI tract is a vast and diverse system subject to a plethora of disorders. Many different laboratory tests have been developed that are invaluable tools that clinicians use to diagnosis and manage these disorders. Drug therapy is well established for the treatment of many diseases of the GI tract and it is essential that pharmacists understand how to interpret laboratory tests related to GI function in order to recommend appropriate medications.

GERD

  • The most common disorder in the esophagus
  • It affects up to 10% of the population
  • The commonly used laboratory test is based on the measurement of the amount of HCl produced by the stomach

Gastric Function Tests

Measurement of the amount of HCl produced by the stomach under basal (resting) and fasting conditions and without exposure to visual, auditory or olfactory stimuli. This is followed by testing after maximal stimulation.

The measurement of pepsin activity or pepsinogen I concentration of the gastric juice is possible, but their production so closely parallels the secretion of acid that testing for pepsin activity does not add significant clinical information about the function of the stomach.

The standard methods now in use are as follows:

A) Basal gastric secretion
One hour morning aspiration
Following a 12 hour overnight fast, the patient is intubated under fluoroscopic guidance and the residual gastric secretion is aspirated with a syringe with the patient leaning slightly to the right.
The four 15 minute samples are taken and segregated in separate containers.
Sudden pH changes would suggest regurgitation of intestinal contents.

B) Pentagastrin stimulation test
Pentagastrin is a synthetic pentapeptide containing the four C-terminal amino acids of gastrin coupled to alanine. It has biologic activity similar to gastrin, stimulating HCl and pepsin secretion.

After completion of the basal secretion collection, pentagastrin (Peptavlon, Ayerst) is injected subcutaneously (4 µg/kg). The peak acid output (PAO) is determined by collecting 6 serial 15 minute specimens and calculating the acid output on the basis of the two highest specimens. The maximum acid output (MAO) is determined on the basis of four successive 15 minute specimens.

Table 1

Gastric Acid
Young people > Old people Gastric carcinoma < Controls
Men > Women Gastric ulcer < Controls
Duodenal ulcer > Controls Jejunal ulcer > Controls

Table 2: Basal and Maximal Acid Output in Various Conditions

Conditions Sex Number of Patients Acid Output (mEq./hour)
Basal Maximal
Controls Male
Female
35
26
4.2
1.8
22.6
15.2
Medical students Male
Female
145
16
5.3
3.3
26.7
21.4
Duodenal ulcer Male
Female
256
64
7.1
4.2
35.2
25.7
Gastric ulcer Male
Female
117
43
2.9
1.6
19.6
13.1
Gastric carcinoma Male
Female
74
32
1.3
0.7
6.7
3.0
Jejunal ulcer Male†
Female
Male‡
10
4
4
7.9
5.5
9.1
25.1
16.4
36.1
From Marks, I.N., et al: S. Afr. J. Surg. 1:53, 1963.
† Following partial gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy.
‡ Following gastroenterostomy alone.

C) Laboratory examination
The volume of each sample is measured, a few drops of a pH indicator dye are added, and the pH is titrated to neutrality with 0.1 mol/L NaOH. The millimoles of acid are calculated per 15 minute sample and recorded. The total acid output for the basal and augmented test hours is calculated and reported.

D) Clinical interpretation
Achlorhydria (anacidity) after stimulation is seen in all cases of pernicious anemia, and in some patients with advanced carcinoma of the stomach. It may also be seen in a variety of other conditions, such as hypochromic anemia, aplastic anemia, hypothyroidism, nutritional megaloblastic anemia and in relatives of patients with pernicious anemia.

Low values are found in gastric carcinoma, benign gastric ulcers, in females and in aging persons.

Hyperacidity is seen in duodenal ulcer, but there is considerable overlap with the normal range.

Gastrin is produced by the antral G cells of the stomach and stimulates HCl secretion by the parietal cells of the stomach. The Zollinger-Ellison (Z-E) syndrome is caused by a non-beta islet cell gastrin-secreting tumor of the pancreas. In this condition there is also a high ratio of basal/maximal acid output.

Causes of Gastric Disorders vs. Hypergastremia

Table 3: Serum Gastrin Concentrations in Various Disorders

Disorder Gastric acid secretion
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome greatly ↑
Hypersecretion of gastrin by antral G-cells greatly ↑
Pernicious anemia
Post vagotomy
Chronic renal failure variable

Drugs Important in Hyperacidity

A) H2 antagonists (e.g., cimetidine, ranitidine)

  • Inhibit gastric acid secretion due to histamine stimulation

B) Proton-pump inhibitors (e.g., lansoprazole, omeprazole)

  • Irreversibly inhibit pump that produces H+ (H+-K+ ATPase)
  • Little effect on intrinsic factor, pepsin or overall volume of secretion

C) Antacids (e.g., Mg(OH)3, Al(OH)3, CaCO3)

  • Neutralize HCl

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori has been implicated in many gastrointestinal diseases including duodenal and gastric ulcer, gastritis, and possibly gastric cancer. In asymptomatic individuals colonization by Helicobacter pylori increases with age up to 50% in the elderly.

A) Diagnostic tests

  1. Biopsy
    1. Culture
    2. Detection of urease enzyme activity by placing the biopsy specimen onto a substrate containing urea and monitoring change in pH.
  2. 13C-breath test
    Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that is capable of living in the low pH environment of the stomach; as part of its adaptation to this hostile environment, it produces high levels of urease (which can help raise the local pH). Based on urease production by Helicobacter pylori, a patient ingests a 13C-labeled urea, and the breath of the patient is monitored for the appearance of 13C-labeled CO2. Within minutes after ingesting the labeled urea, the 13C to 12C ratio of respiratory CO2 starts to increase, reflecting the addition of the 13CO2 from the labeled urea. The maximum ratio of 13C to 12C peaks at 1.5 hours and then decreases to baseline. Using the 13C methodology, detection of Helicobacter pylori infection is determined with a clinical sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 94.7%.
  3. Immunoassay for IgG antibody
    There is a strong correlation between serum antibody and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in culture material obtained by biopsy. However, the test may remain positive for several years, even after successful treatment.

Sample of Gastric Analysis Results (click to enlarge)

gastriclab.gif

B) Preferred therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection

  • Triple therapy includes a proton-pump inhibitor (twice a day) and plus two of the following: amoxicillin, clarithromycin or metronidazole
  • Quadruple therapy includes a proton-pump inhibitor (twice a day), tetracycline, bismuth, and metronidazole

MALABSORPTION/MALDIGESTION

A variety of diseases causes a disturbance in digestion and absorption.

Maldigestion: Dysfunction of the digestive process that can occur in a number of sites in the gastrointestinal tract.

Malabsorption: Dysfunction of the absorptive process by the gut caused by gluten, inflammation, infection, surgical resection, vitamin deficiency and other factors.

Both conditions lead to one common syndrome called malabsorption. Thus, the diagnostic process is designed to:

  1. Demonstrate the presence of malabsorption
  2. Identify the type of disease process

All major phases of absorption may simultaneously be affected, i.e. fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, etc. This syndrome, called general malabsorption, is characterized by amylorrhea (excess starch), steatorrhea (excess fat), and creatorrhea (meat fibers, protein).

General Malabsorption/Maldigestion

In this syndrome all major phases of absorption may be involved. This syndrome may be due to:

  1. Pancreatic disease such as chronic pancreatitis, carcinoma, cystic fibrosis
  2. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (gastrinoma of the non-beta islet cells in the pancreas)
  3. Liver disease with blockage of bile flow
  4. Intestinal diseases
    Celiac disease [gluten (gliadin) sensitivity]
    Tropical sprue
    Idiopathic steatorrhea
    Crohn’s disease
    Whipple’s disease (caused by Tropheryma whippeli)
    Scleroderma
    Amyloidosis
    Lymphoma
    Intestinal resection
    Blind Loop Syndrome
    Carcinoid syndrome
  5. Resin treatment

A) Tests of nonspecific biochemical abnormalities seen in malabsorption

  • Serum calcium is usually low because of decreased absorption and decreased serum albumin to which normally 55% of the calcium in serum is bound
  • Serum alkaline phosphatase is elevated; its source may be the gut but usually is the bone; chronically decreased vitamin D and calcium absorption lead to osteomalacia, a condition accompanied by inadequate mineralization of osteoid and elevations of serum alkaline phosphatase
  • Serum proteins are decreased
  • Serum urea nitrogen usually is low due to the decreased protein absorption
  • Hypocholesterolemia is seen in the full syndrome of malabsorption, presumably due to decreased absorption of lipids and decreased synthesis of cholesterol
  • The prothrombin time may be markedly prolonged, and the patient may even present with hemorrhages; a combination of reduced vitamin K absorption and decreased synthesis of clotting factor due to protein deficiency or decreased liver synthesis is responsible
  • The glucose tolerance curve often is flat because of defective glucose absorption
  • Vitamin A is decreased

B) Specific malabsorption/maldigestion defects

  • Disaccharidase deficiencies:
    • lactase deficiency
    • sucrase deficiency
    • maltase deficiency
  • Glucose-galactose malabsorption
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Protein-losing enteropathy
  • Blind-loop syndrome
  • Jejunal diverticulum
  • Parasitic infestations

C) Tests used in the evaluation of malabsorption/maldigestion

  1. Carbohydrate malabsorption
    • D-xylose absorption test (decreased)
    • Disaccharidase test (decreased)
    • Breath hydrogen test (increased)
  2. Fat malabsorption
    • Fecal fat determination (elevated)
    • 14C-triolein breath test (decreased)
  3. Bacterial overgrowth
    • 14C-Xylose breath test (increased)
  4. Specific disorders
    • Celiac disease (Endomysial antibody present)
    • Pernicious anemia (Schilling test)
    • Cystic fibrosis (sweat test)

Carbohydrate Malabsorption

D-Xylose absorption test

This test evaluates carbohydrate absorption and differentiates proximal intestinal from pancreatic malabsorption. D-xylose, a pentose, normally not present in urine, is given by mouth in doses of either 25 g or 5 g. Its excretion in a 5-hour urine sample and its levels in plasma at 1 or 2 hours are measured.

The absorption of D-xylose in the intestine does not require phosphorylation or pancreatic secretions, and it is not metabolized by the liver. Thus, the urinary excretion of xylose is a reliable measure of intestinal absorption, provided renal function is normal. Plasma levels serve to ascertain if renal function is normal.

Decreased D-xylose absorption is observed in celiac disease, tropical sprue, Crohn’s disease, immunoglobulin deficiency, pellagra, ascariasis, blind loop syndrome, radiation enteritis, surgical bowel resection, after vomiting, delayed gastric emptying, inadequate hydration, decreased circulation, renal disease, thyroid disease, sequestration in body fluids.

Reference values
> 4.1 g/5 h urine sample on 25 g dose
> 1.2 g/5 h urine sample on 5 g dose
1 h plasma level: > 25 mg/dL on 25 g dose
2 h plasma level: > 15 mg/dL on 25 g dose

Some patients have abdominal discomfort with the 25 g dose. In these individuals (and in children) the 5 g dose is used.

Interpretation of low urine levels of D-xylose

Urine (U), plasma (P)

  1. Intestinal malabsorption (↓P ↓U)
  2. Renal “retention” (renal failure) (nl or ↑P, ↓U)
  3. Myxedema and bacterial overgrowth (poor absorption) (↓P, ↓U)
  4. Incomplete urine collection (nl P, ↓U)

Disaccharide test

Individual disaccharides are administered orally and the blood glucose response is measured every 30 min for 2 h. To differentiate between disaccharidase deficiency and general malabsorption the test is performed with 50 g of each specific disaccharide. If the test is normal, disaccharidase deficiency is excluded. If it is abnormal an equivalent quantity of each constituent monosaccharide (25 g) is tested. Normal absorption of the monosaccharides excludes general carbohydrate malabsorption, and the lesion is identified as a disaccharidase deficiency.

Acquired lactase deficiency is the most common with the congenital form being rare. Sucrase and maltase deficiencies are less common.

The normal reponse should be an increase of serum glucose >20 – 30 mg/dL over fasting glucose levels. An increase of <20 mg/dL suggests a deficiency.

Breath hydrogen test for carbohydrate intolerance

This test is based on the principle that hydrogen is not produced by mammalian cells and its presence in expired air is due to bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates.

A deficiency of one or more enzymes can lead to retention of sugars in the intestinal lumen, which are a source of bacterial fermentation in the large intestine. The bacteria ferment the sugars to hydrogen gas which is absorbed systemically and expired in air.

Fat Malabsorption

Fecal fat determination

In general malabsorption, steatorrhea is a consistent finding. High fecal fat is the best confirmatory test for steatorrhea; but, it gives no information as to the cause. The fecal lipids normally are derived from:

  1. Mucosal cells
  2. Gastrointestinal flora
  3. Excretions into the intestinal lumen
  4. Diet

In health the normally small contribution of dietary fat to the total fecal lipids remains fairly constant despite variations in dietary fat intake. In malabsorption the fraction of unabsorbed dietary fat increases markedly.

The standard total fecal fat determination should be carried out on the specimens pooled over 72 h. In our institution, feces for this purpose are collected in a pre-weighed gallon paint can, and kept refrigerated during the collection period. In the laboratory the entire sample is diluted with water, well blended to the point of emulsification and then small samples are removed for fat extraction by organic solvents, followed by drying and weighing. Results are reported in grams/24 h.

Reference range: 1-5 g/24 h
Questionable: 5-7 g/24 h
Abnormal: >7 g/24 h

Fecal fat determinations are cumbersome and also entail unpleasantries for patients, ward and laboratory personnel alike, and they should be ordered only for stringent and appropriate clinical indications. However, a qualitative fecal fat by microscopic examination of stool for fat globules can be useful without the problems of a quantitative test.

14C-Triolein breath test

This test is based on the principle that orally administered 14C-labeled triglycerides are digested and absorbed, and some of the labeled 14C is expired in the breath. This test measures the specific activity of 14CO2 and it assumes that there is a constant rate of CO2 production from other sources. The patient must be fasting and at rest during the study.

The 14C-triolein breath test is not reliable in patients with diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, or chronic respiratory insufficiency. The results correlate well with the fecal fat determination. Both tests are not specific for the cause of malabsorption.

Specific Disorders

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease can be triggered after surgery, pregnancy, emotional stress or viral infections. Of particular high risk are those individuals with other autoimmune diseases. Diagnosing celiac disease can be difficult because some of its symptoms are similar to other illnesses such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, intestinal infections, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.

Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of celiac disease requires gluten in the patient’s diet at the time of testing. The initial test is detection of IgA endomysial antibody (EMA) against tissue transglutaminase. The sensitivity of this test is close to 100% and specificity is around 95%. If this test is positive, the patient should have multiple small bowel biopsies from the second part of the duodenum and beyond to establish the diagnosis. The diagnosis is then confirmed by a resolution of symptoms following the introduction and maintenance of a strictly gluten-free diet.

In those patients that appear to have celiac disease but don’t have an elevated EMA, consider that 2% of patients with celiac disease will be IgA deficient and unable to make IgA antibodies. A total IgA quantitation is indicated in these cases. These patients, and patients under the age of 3, should be tested for IgG antibodies to tissue transglutaminase.

Since celiac disease is a relatively common disease associated with long-term complications that are treatable by a gluten-free diet, it has been considered for public-health screening. Arguments for this are the antibody testing is inexpensive, sensitive, and specific. However, the rebuttal is that we do not know the clinical significance of an asymptomatic individual found on screening to have the disease. Will these patients have the same long-term consequences? Additionally, a single negative test does not necessarily exclude possibility of disease in the future.

Treatment
The only treatment for the disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet. This is difficult due to the wide use of gluten in products ranging from bread to salad dressings and beer. Oats have general been considered safe for patients with celiac disease; however, recent studies indicate that the grain does contain some T-cell-stimulatory epitopes and that symptoms develop in some patients after consumption. Others contend that the oats are implicated due to contamination with wheat during packaging and transportation. Tef, a cereal traditionally grown in Ethiopia for making flat bread (injera), has been suggested as substituted for wheat flour in almost all applications and has similar nutritional value. Tef is only distantly related phylogenetically to wheat, barley and rye. Thus, tef could be considered for patients with celiac disease.

(NEJM 2005;353:1748-9).

Pernicious Anemia

Schilling Test - absorption of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential cofactor for DNA synthesis. It requires gastric synthesis of intrinsic factor and proper ileal function for its absorption. B12 deficiency can be due to decreased intrinsic factor or decreased absorption due to pancreatic or ileal disease.

The Schilling test is performed by orally administering 57Co-radiolabeled B12 and quantitating its appearance in the serum, feces or (most commonly) in the urine.

A reference population excretes > 8% of the ingested dose in a 24 hour urine collection while < 7% is excreted in pernicious anemia. If the abnormality corrects with the co-administration of intrinsic factor with B12, the defect is due to deficiency of intrinsic factor rather than malabsorption due to pancreatic or ileal causes.

Cystic Fibrosis

The sweat test is the most reliable laboratory test for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. In cystic fibrosis, sweat chloride values are 60-120 mmol/L; normal values are < 60 mmol/L. The test becomes positive within 3 to 5 weeks of age. Only 1 to 2 % of affected patients have sweat chloride values below 60 mmol/L and only 1 in 1000 has values below 50 mmol/L. Positive tests are observed in a number of other diseases; however, those are rare and are generally clinically distinct from cystic fibrosis.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of the U.S. accepts only the sweat test done by iontophoresis with direct determination of chloride or sodium. Use of ion-specific electrodes applied directly to the skin or agar plates for the determination of Cl- is no longer accepted.

A) Collection of sample
A 0.3% solution of pilocarpine (a cholinergic drug) is introduced into the skin by iontophoresis to induce sweating. Sweat is collected with a gauze pad, weighed, eluted, and analyzed for Cl- and less often Na+.
B) Test for sweat chloride and sodium
Gauze pad is weighed, eluted with measured amount of distilled water, and electrolytes are determined.
C) Normal values
Chloride: < 60 mmol/L
Sodium: 10-90 mmol/L
D) Elevated values are indicative of cystic fibrosis
Chloride 60-120 mmol/L (no overlap of normal)
Sodium 60-180 mmol/L (overlaps normal; less useful)

DETECTION OF OCCULT BLOOD (HEME)

Principle

The detection of blood in feces is an important diagnostic aid in establishing the occurrence of internal bleeding resulting from gastrointestinal malignant growths or from gastric and duodenal ulcers. Severe gastrointestinal bleeding (60-90 mL blood per day) is visually recognizable because "tarry" (black) stools are excreted and further microscopic examination of these stools reveals the presence of erythrocytes. In those instances where much smaller quantities of blood are not visually or microscopically apparent, more sensitive techniques are required to detect this hidden, or so-called "occult," blood. Because heme-containing substances possess peroxidase activity, this property can be used to detect the presence of occult blood in feces or urine. Colorless, aromatic substances (such as guaiacol, o-tolidine, di-orthoanisidine) are catalytically oxidized to blue chromogens by heme in the presence of H2O2 when the reaction is performed in an acid medium. The sensitivity of the test is adjusted in such a way that a physiologic amount of blood loss will not give a positive reaction.

To establish that occult blood in feces is due to gastrointestinal hemorrhages, other possible sources of blood from hemorrhoids, menstrual flow, ingested blood derived from the nose or mouth, and perianal bleeding must be excluded. In addition, ingested meat contains hemoglobin and myoglobin and the presence of heme in stool derived from these foodstuffs may give false positive tests for fecal occult blood. Thus, for best results patients should be placed on meat-free or low-meat diets for three days before evaluation for occult blood in their stools. Normally, up to 2.5 mL of blood may be lost daily in the stools. Drugs (such as salicylates, steroids, reserpine, indomethacin, colchicine, iron) often cause increased gastrointestinal blood loss, resulting in positive occult blood tests. Potent reducing agents such as ascorbic acid may quench the reaction (false negative). False positives may be seen following ingestion of horseradish (peroxidase). To reduce the number of false negative results, the test should be requested on several different occasions.

CASE STUDIES

Case 1

List the most common symptoms, physical findings, and laboratory abnormalities (chemical and hematological) in an extreme case of malabsorption.

Case 2

The patient is a 48-year old male with chief complaint of chronic diarrhea and epigastic pain for the past year. He states that the diarrhea is watery and without blood, pus or mucus. He has a history of duodenal ulcer for which he takes cimetidine. He has been treated for H. Pylori without improvement of his symptoms. He reports a 25-pound weight loss over the past 6 months. He denies use of laxatives.

PMH: None

Vitals: T 98, P 88, BP 114/55, R 28, wt 200

Physical exam:
Gen: no acute distress
EENT: PERRLA, EOMI (extra ocular muscles intact)
Respiratory: Clear to auscultation
Cardiac: RRR (rate rhythm regular)
Abdomen: bowel sounds present, abdomen soft, no organomegaly
Extremities: No cyanosis, clubbing, or edema
Neurologic: Alert and oriented, 5/5 strength, sensation intact
Rectal: guiac negative, normal sphincter tone

Labs: Na 137 mmol/L, K 3.3 mmol/L, Cl 96 mmol/L, Bicarb 27 mmol/L, Bun 18 mg/dL, Creat 0.8 mg/dL, Glucose 167 mg/dL

Additional studies reveal:
Gastrin: 1482 pg/mL (reference 0-100 pg/mL)
Colonoscopy with biopsies: normal
Stool fat: negative
O&P: negative
Stool culture for pathogenic bacteria: negative

Based the high gastrin levels an octreotide scan was ordered which showed intense octreotide activity arising from the distal second part of the duodenum.

  1. What is your diagnosis?
  2. What is the recommended treatment?
  3. This patient is at increased risk of having what syndrome?

Case 3

(J. Athl. Train. 40(4):360-364, 2005)

A 20-year-old student athlete female (height, 183 cm; weight, 81 kg) presented with symptoms suggestive of the early stages of an eating disorder shortly after beginning college. An eating disorder was suspected based on a rapid decrease in body mass (8.1 kg in 20 days), loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting after meals. On initial referral, the athlete’s physical examination revealed a body mass of 72.9 kg with 14.5% body fat, with other relevant findings of diarrhea, fatigue, bloating, and abdominal pain. The results of a routine complete blood count are shown below.

GI-case2-table.png
  1. What is the differential diagnosis?
  2. What additional tests would be indicated?
  3. What are the characteristic biopsy findings that would suggest Celiac disease?
  4. Is this a common type of presentation for this type of disease?
  5. Would a diagnosis of Celiac disease cause the observed CBC findings?
  6. How would you treat this patient?

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