Malabsorption DDx
Overview
Malabsorption can result from pancreatic enzyme deficiency, bile salt deficiency, defects of the absorptive epithelium and defects in removing absorbed fat from the epithelium.
Causes
Lipolytic phase defects (pancreatic enzyme deficiency)
- chronic pancreatitis
- cystic fibrosis
Micellar phase defects (bile salt deficiency):
- extrahepatic biliary obstruction
- chronic liver disease
- bacterial overgrowth
- terminal ileal disease, such as Crohn’s disease or resection
Mucosal defects (diseased epithelial lining):
- coeliac disease
- tropical sprue
- lymphoma
- Whipple’s disease
- bowel ischaemia or resection
- amyloidosis
- hypogammaglobulinaemia
- HIV infection
Delivery phase defects (inability to transport fat out of cells to lymphatics):
- intestinal lymphangiectasia
- abetalipoproteinaemia
- carcinomatous infiltration of lymphatics
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Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
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