Crohns Disease (Medically Correct Spelling Is "Crohn's Disease")

Introduction:

This inflammatory bowel disease occurs preferentially in the last part of the small bowel (called ileum) and the first part of the right sided colon. About 80% of all cases of Crohns are happening in that region.  However, the remainder of 20% can happen confined to the colon, but tends to be in the right colon( also called "ascending colon").

The reason that distinction is important is that another inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (see below), likes to confine itself solely to the colon and this becomes important for diagnostic purposes.

There are several distinctions between these two diseases, so proper diagnosis in the beginning is crucial. Crohns disease is associated with small ulcerations in the lining of the bowel wall with associated inflammatory changes in the wall, which are called granulomas. On biopsy (small bowel biopsy, colon biopsy) these have a very distinct pathology, which helps for the diagnosis of Crohns. Unfortunately these granulomas are also the ones that have given Crohns the bad name, as they can melt together leading to complications such as fistula formation or bowel perforation. This in turn is responsible for acute flare-ups of Crohns, fistula formation to neighboring bowel loops, the bladder, the rectum, the vagina or the skin.

With the chronic progression of these changes there can be a narrowing of the opening of the bowel eventually leading to a stricture or bowel obstruction. Another complication can be an intra-abdominal abscess, when a granuloma perforates the bowel and the bowel contents enter into the abdominal cavity. Crohns has a spotty presentation with areas of bowel having been skipped (" skip areas"). This is an important finding on X-rays to support the diagnosis of Crohns. For further topics re. Crohns see table with links above.

Future more specific anti-inflammatory medication for Crohns

Lately there are some specific anti-inflammatory treatment modalities that have been developed. The newest classes that have been tested in Crohns and ulcerative colitis are the human cytokines (interleukin-11) and the anti-cytokine antibodies (anti-tumor necrosis factor or anti-TNF). Ref. 22-25 deal with interleukin-11. Ref. 26 describes among other medications the use of infliximab, a chimeric antibody targeting the anti-TNF, which has done very well in preliminary clinical trials and early postmarketing experience. However, additional clinical trials are needed to show long-term safety and adverse effects of the medication, but it likely will improve treatment of Crohns.

Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

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Last Modified: Dec. 28, 2008