Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by transmural inflammation, which can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, though it most frequently affects the terminal ileum and the beginning of the colon. Unlike Ulcerative Colitis, another form of IBD, Crohn's Disease often presents with patchy areas of inflammation, with segments of normal tissue in between, a pattern known as skip lesions. The etiology of Crohn's Disease is complex and multifactorial, involving genetic predisposition, environmental factors, an abnormal immune response, and alterations in the gut microbiome.

Symptoms of Crohn's Disease are diverse and can include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue. The disease can also manifest extraintestinal symptoms, such as arthritis, skin disorders, and eye inflammation. The transmural nature of the inflammation in Crohn's Disease can lead to complications like strictures, fistulas, and abscesses.

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of endoscopic, radiologic, histologic, and laboratory evaluations. The management of Crohn's Disease is tailored to the individual and aims to induce and maintain remission. Treatment options include anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, biologic therapies that target specific aspects of the immune response, and nutritional therapy. In some cases, surgical intervention may be required to address complications or to remove severely affected sections of the GI tract.

Recent research into Crohn's Disease focuses on understanding the interactions between genetic factors, the immune system, and the gut microbiome, as well as developing new therapeutic agents and strategies. This research is key to improving patient outcomes, as the course of Crohn's Disease can be unpredictable and varies significantly among individuals.

References:

Antoniussen CS, Rasmussen HH, Holst M, Lauridsen C. Reducing Disease Activity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Consumption of Plant-Based Foods and Nutrients. Front Nutr. 2021 Dec 9;8:733433. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.733433. PMID: 34957174; PMCID: PMC8696360.

Ranasinghe IR, Hsu R. Crohn Disease. 2023 Feb 20. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 28613792. [L]

Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS. Crohn Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Jul;92(7):1088-1103. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010. Epub 2017 Jun 7. PMID: 28601423. [L]

Ballester Ferré MP, Boscá-Watts MM, Mínguez Pérez M. Crohn's disease. Med Clin (Barc). 2018 Jul 13;151(1):26-33. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2017.10.036. Epub 2017 Dec 13. PMID: 29246562. [L]

Veauthier B, Hornecker JR. Crohn's Disease: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Dec 1;98(11):661-669. PMID: 30485038. [L]

Roda G, Chien Ng S, Kotze PG, Argollo M, Panaccione R, Spinelli A, Kaser A, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Danese S. Crohn's disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Apr 2;6(1):22. doi: 10.1038/s41572-020-0156-2. Erratum in: Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Apr 6;6(1):26. Erratum in: Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 May 20;6(1):42. Erratum in: Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Jun 19;6(1):51. PMID: 32242028. [L]

Wilkins T, Jarvis K, Patel J. Diagnosis and management of Crohn's disease. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Dec 15;84(12):1365-75. PMID: 22230271. [L]

Gajendran M, Loganathan P, Catinella AP, Hashash JG. A comprehensive review and update on Crohn's disease. Dis Mon. 2018 Feb;64(2):20-57. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2017.07.001. Epub 2017 Aug 18. PMID: 28826742. [L]

Biomarkers related to this condition:

ASCA + ANCA

Function: Saccharomyces cerevisae, baker’s yeast, contains Chl1p, a putative helicase with human homologs (antiSaccharamyces cerevisae antibody – ASCA), which is required for DNA repair, recombination, transcriptional silencing and agi

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ASCA/ANCA IgA+IgM

Saccharomyces cerevisae, baker’s yeast, contains Chl1p, a putative helicase with human homologs (antiSaccharamyces cerevisae antibody – ASCA). It is required for DNA repair, recombination, transcriptional silencing and aging. Anti-neutrop

Learn more

Crohn's Disease

Biomarkers related to this condition:

ASCA + ANCA

ASCA/ANCA IgA+IgM

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