Crohn's disease Flashcards
Name the two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Describe the age of presentation of crohn’s disease
Bimodal peak
15-30yo and 60-80yo
What type of course does inflammatory bowel disease follow?
Relapsing-remitting
What part of the GI system does crohn’s disease affect?
Any part
Most commonly targets the distal ileum or proximal colon
What is crohn’s disease characterised by?
Transmural inflammation - affecting all layers of the bowel
Deep ulcers and fissures - cobblestone appearance
Skip lesions - the inflammation is not continuous
Fistula formation
Give the microscopic appearance of crohn’s disease
Non-caseating granulomatous inflammation
Describe fistula formation in crohn’s’ disease
Between affected bowel and adjacent structures
Peri-anal 54% Entero-enteric 24% Recto-vaginal 9% Entero-cutaneous Entero-vesicalar
List the risk factors of crohn’s disease
Family history - 20% have 1st degree relative
Smoking - increases risk and relapse
White European descent (Ashkenazi jews)
Appendicectomy - risk increased directly after surgery
Give the symptoms of crohn’s disease
Episodic colicky abdo pain
Diarrhoea - chronic, may be mixed with blood or mucus
Systemic symptoms - malaise, anorexia, low-grade fever
Malabsorption and malnourishment
Oral aphthous ulcers - painful and recurring
Perianal disease
Describe the abdominal findings of crohn’s disease
Abdominal tenderness
Mouth or perianal lesions
Signs of malabsoprtion or dehydration
Extra-intestinal features
List the extra-intestinal features of crohn’s disease
MSK - enteropathic arthritis, metabolic bone disease, nail clubbing
Skin - erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
Eyes - episcleritis, anterior uveitis, iritis
Hepatobiliary - primary sclerosing cholangitis, gallstones and cholangiocarcinoma
Renal - renal stones
Which bones joint does enteropathic arthritis commonly affect?
Sacroiliac
Describe erythema nodosum
Tender red/purple sc nodules typically on shins
Describe pyoderma gangrenosum
Erythematous papules/pustules that develop into deep ulcers
Occur anywhere - typically the shins
List the investigations done for crohn’s disease
Bloods - FBC, CRP - anaemia, low albumin (malabsorption), evidence of inflammation
AXR/CT - obstruction
Faecal calprotectin - inflammation
Stool sample - infection
Colonoscopy with biopsy
CT scan abdomen pelvis - bowel obstruction, perforation, collection or fistulae
MRI - enteric fistulae and perianal disease
Examination under anaesthesia with proctosigmoidoscopy - examine and treat perianal fistulae
Which drugs should be avoided in acute attacks of crohn’s disease
Anti-motility (loperamide)
How do you induce remission in crohn’s
Fluid resuscitation
Nutritional support
Prophylactic heparin
Anti-embolic stockings
Corticosteroid therapy
Immunosuppressive agents - mesalazine and azathioprine
Biological agents - infliximab can be trialled as a rescue therapy
How is crohn’s remission maintained?
Azathioprine
Mesalazine or methotrexate as alternatives can be trialled or added in
Biologics - infliximab, adalimumab, rituximab - rescue therapy during acute flares in those who have not responded to first line remission
Smoking cessation is advised
Colonoscopy surveillance - increased risk of colorectal malignancy
Enteral nutritional support
Antibiotics - concurrent infection or perianal disease - ciprofloxacin or metronidazole
Describe the surgical management of crohn’s disease
Ileocecal resection Peri-anal disease Stricturoplasty Small or large bowel resection Pre-operative optimisation and bowel sparing approach
List the complications of crohn’s disease
GI - Fistula, stricture formation, recurrent perianal abscess/fistulae, GI malignancy
Extra-intestinal - malabsorption, osteoporosis, increased risk of gallstones and renal stones
Describe the increased risk of renal stones in crohn’s disease
Due to malabsorption of fats in the small bowel which cause calcium to remain in the lumen, oxalate is then absorbed freely resulting in hyperoxaluria and formation of oxalate stones in the renal tract