Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flashcards
Examples of IBD
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
What is UC
Continuous chronic inflammation of only the colon
What is Crohn’s disease
Intermittent chronic inflammation of the entire GI tract
Difference between UC and Crohns
- Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon while Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere along GI tract
- In Crohn’s disease, there are healthy parts of the intestine mixed in between inflamed areas. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, is continuous inflammation of the colon
- Crohns = skip lesions; UC = continous
- Ulcerative colitis only affects the inner most lining of the colon (crypt abscesses) while Crohn’s disease can occur in all the layers of the bowel walls (transmural inflammation)
- Crohns has more genetic component (NOD2)
Clinical presentation of UC
5Ps: (signs and symptoms) Pyrexia Pseudopolyps lead Pipe radiological appearances Poo (bloody diarrhoea) Proctitis
Recurrent diarrhoea, often with blood and mucus
Some extra gastrointestinal manifestations: arthralgia, fatty liver and gall stones
Which IBD does smoking protect you against and which does it cause damage to it
UC - smoking protects
Crohns - smoking damages
Pathophysiology of UC
Mucosal inflammation originating in the anus and continuously progressing proximally
No granulomata
Goblet cell depletion and crypt abcesses
Clinical presentation of Crohns
Symptoms depend on the region affected.
Small bowel: Weight loss, abdominal pain.
Terminal ileum: Right iliac fossa pain mimicking appendicitis.
Colonic: Blood and mucus with diarrhoea, with pain.
Pathophysiology of Crohns
Transmural inflammation with granulomata in 50% of cases.
Ocurs anywhere in the GI tract with ‘skip lesions’.
Deep ulcers and fissures -> cobblestone appearance.
Aetiology of IBD
Genetics: Mild genetic link (Strong in Crohn’s).
Environmental: Stress and depression -> attacks.
Immune response: Effector T cells predominating over regulatory T cells -> Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12, IL-5, IL-17 and interferon gamma/IFG) -> Stimulate macrophages to produce Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha, IL-1 and IL-6. Neutrophils, mast cells and eosinophils are also activated. All this causes a wide variety of inflammatory mediators -> Cell damage
Epidemiology of IBD
Usually presents in teens and 20s. Common In northern europe. 400 per 100,000 in UK. Smoking is a RF.
Diagnosis of IBD
Seek to distinguish between UC and Crohns.
Sigmoidoscopy/rectal biopsy
Treatment of UC
5-Aminoslicylic acid (mesalazine) - drug of choice for remission and relapse prevention
Surgical resection
Complications of UC
Psychosocial and sexual problems Frequent relapse Colorectal cancer risk doubled Osteoporosis from steroid use Toxic megacolon Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Treatment of Crohn’s
Stop smoking.
Corticosteroids induce remission (but don’t prevent relapse).
Thiopurines maintain remission (but have side effects) Azathioprine