Crohn's Disease Flashcards
What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
It is defined as chronic, relapsing-remitting conditions in which there is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
What are the two inflammatory bowel disease disorders?
Ulcerative colitis (UC)
Crohn’s disease
What is Crohn’s disease?
It is an intermittent inflammatory bowel disease that most commonly affects the terminal ileum and colon; however, it can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract
What is the aetiology of Crohn’s disease?
The underlying aetiology remains unclear
However, there is evidence that the combination of an altered intestinal microbiota and compromised colonic epithelial integrity, results in the inappropriate exposure of non-sterile intestinal contents to the underlying immunological tissue – resulting in inflammation
What are the six risk factors of Crohn’s disease?
Young Age < 30 Years Old
Ashkenazi Jewish Descent
IBD Family History
HLA-B27 Positive
Gastrointestinal Infection
Smoking
What gene is associated with Crohn’s disease?
NOD-2
What are the five clinical features of Crohn’s disease?
Non-Bloody Diarrhoea
Right Iliac Fossa Pain/Mass
Perianal Disease
Mouth Ulcerations
Weight Loss
What is the most common clinical feature of Crohn’s disease in children?
Abdominal pain
What are the nine extra-intestinal manifestation of Crohn’s disease?
Gallstones
Oxalate Renal Calculi
Colorectal Cancer
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Erythema Nodosum
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Uveitis
Episcleritis
What pneumonic is used to remember the extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease?
A PIE SAC
Aphthous Ulcers
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Iritis
Erythema Nodosum
Sclerosing Cholangitis
Arthritis
Clubbing
What are the three most common extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease?
Gallstones
Oxalate Renal Calculi
Episcleritis
What four investigations are used to diagnose Crohn’s disease?
Blood Tests
Stool Tests
Endoscopy + Biopsy
Abdominal X-Ray (AXR)
What are the five blood test results that indicate Crohn’s disease?
Decreased RBC Levels
Increased WCC Levels
Increased CRP Levels
Decreased Albumin Levels
Decreased Vitamin B12 Levels
What are the two stool tests used to diagnose Crohn’s disease?
Faecal Calprotectin
Stool Culture
What is faecal calprotectin?
It is an inflammatory marker, which is released during colitis
What faecal calprotectin result indicates Crohn’s disease?
There are elevated levels of this inflammatory marker present in stool cultures – usually > 200ug/g
How is faecal calprotectin used to investigate Crohn’s disease?
This stool test is useful for distinguishing between inflammatory bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
How are stool cultures used to investigate Crohn’s disease?
They are used to exclude gastrointestinal infections
What three gastrointestinal infections present similarly to Crohn’s disease, and are therefore important to exclude?
Salmonella
E.coli
Campylobacter
What is the gold standard investigation used to diagnose Crohn’s disease?
Endoscopy with biopsy
What are the four macroscopic features of Crohn’s disease on endoscopy?
Skip Lesions of Inflamed Mucosa
Cobble-Stone Appearance
Erythematous Mucosa
Transmural Inflammation
What is transmural inflammation?
It is defined as the infiltration of inflammatory cells to all layers - from mucosa to serosa