Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis (Week 4 GI) Flashcards
What are the 2 inflammatory bowel diseases?
- crohns disease
- ulcerative colitis
What is the etiology of IBD?
No known cause or cure for IBD
* Infectious agent–bacteria? virus?
* Auto-immune - body attacks itself
* Psychological – stress induced
* Environment-diet? - Cola, sugar, chewing gum, chocolate, animal protein, dietary fatty acids (ultra processed foods with lots of emulsifiers)
* Genetics
What are some outcomes of malnutrition in IBD?
Energy- protein malnutrition is common in both diseases when disease active; more so in Crohn’s Disease; not as common in UC
* ↑ risk of infections
* ↓ immunocompetence
* ↓ enzyme function (brush border)
* ↑ cost to health care system
* ↓ tolerance to medical treatment
* ↑ morbidity and mortality
* altered fluid and electrolyte balance
therefore preventing & correcting malnutrition is essential
What are some complications of IBD?
- inadequate intake
- decreased absorption
- excessive losses
- ↑ requirements
- drug-nutrient effects
- repaid intestinal transit
What is the incidence of UC?
- 3-6/100,000
- stable incidence
- equal m/f
- bimodal → 15-30 years of age (yoa) and 60-70 yoa
What is the incidence of CD?
- 2-4/100,000
- ↑ incidence
- equal m/f
- bimodal → 15-30 yoa AND 60-70 yoa
- AB has highest incidence in Canada
- Common in Jewish descent in NA
Pathophysiology of UC
More superficial damage
* Mucosal inflammation (associated with ↑ CRP)
* Colon and rectum
* Continuous lesions
* some blood loss on superficial colonocytes
* more internal because of deeper fissures
Pathophysiology of CD
Goes right through inner lumen into blood vessels
* Transmural inflammation
* Any site of GI tract (terminal ileum 70%)
* Skip lesions (Activity index) - based on patients coping mechanism and their perspective so can be subjective
Clinical disease activity, endoscopic inflammation,
and severely active histologic inflammation is associated with ↑ CRP
Complications of IBD
also ulcers
Problem with toxic megacolon?
It is defined as a nonobstructive dilation of the colon, which can be total or segmental and is usually associated with systemic toxicity.
* Rare, but potentially deadly complication of colonic inflammation.
Layers of small intestine
Difference in inflammation between UC vs. CD
- UC: more superficial layers of colonic wall and only appears in colon
- CD: anywhere in the bowel (including oral cavity) and in more than one place in the intestines with depper fissures/damage; increased risk for fistula appearance
Describe a fistula
A fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. This results in drainage into other cavities in the body and can lead to tissue breakdown and severe infection (eg fistula to bladder).
* More common in Crohns
Describe a stricture
is a narrowing of part of the intestine because of scar tissue in its wall. Strictures are more commonly seen in Crohn’s disease than in ulcerative colitis. In Crohn’s disease, 25% of patients have had at least one stricture in their small intestine and 10% have had a stricture in their large intestine.
* Adhesions: when parts of the bowel wall stick together
What factors lead to inadequate intake with malnutrition?
- anorexia
- nausea
- vomiting
- dietary restriction w/o supplementation