Alternative Names
Crohn's disease; ulcerative colitis; indeterminate colitis; IBD; Regional enteritis - Crohn's; Regional ileitis - Crohn's; Colitis; Distal colitis; Pancolitis; Ulcerative proctitis
Symptoms & Characteristics
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers primarily to two chronic autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although the two distinct diseases share common symptoms, there are also some important differences.
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon. Ulcerative colitis can happen at any age, but symptoms usually begin between the ages of 15 and 30.
- Crohn's disease (CD) can cause inflammation of the entire digestive system - from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum and parts of the large intestine. Crohn's disease causes inflammation that penetrates much deeper into the intestinal wall layers than ulcerative colitis does. It can occur in people of all age groups but is most often diagnosed in young adults.
- In rare cases, patients have been diagnosed with both CD and UC, a condition called indeterminate colitis.
Common symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease may include:
- bloody diarrhea and rectal bleeding
- growth problems (in affected children)
- malnutrition (especially Crohn's disease)
With inflammatory bowel diseases, some affected people have only mild symptoms. Symptoms may resolve for periods of time or worsen. Studies have established that having ulcerative colitis increases the risk to develop colon cancer. Whether having Crohn's disease also increases colon cancer risk is currently debated.
Treatment
Treatment for inflammatory bowel disease may include medications, nutrition supplements, surgery or a combination of these options.
If someone notices or experiences any of the signs or symptoms common to inflammatory bowel disease, it is important to see a doctor immediately.
How Common Is It?
It is believed that about one million Americans have IBD.
- IBD are more common in Caucasians and African-Americans than in Asians and Hispanics.
Genetics & Inheritance
The causes of IBD are largely unknown. IBD most likely has multifactorial inheritance, which means it involves a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
It is currently well established that IBD may also run in some families. Researchers believe that there are probably a number of genes that each contribute to the development of IBD as well as influence the severity and progression of disease.
- Current research is examining a number of candidate genes that may contribute to the development and symptoms of IBD.
- Variations in at least 10 genes have been associated with an increased risk to develop IBD in some families, most of them to Crohn's disease in particular.
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are small variations in a single "letter" of DNA that can be found throughout our entire genetic make-up. Some researchers have proposed that specific SNPs may influence the risk to develop IBD in some people. How these SNPs contribute to IBD is unclear and much of this research is considered preliminary at this point. Research is currently often limited to specific ethnic groups. Further research is needed to replicate study findings across different ethnic groups and clearly establish associations.
- Other yet to be identified or adequately classified genes may also contribute to IBD.
A genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional may be beneficial in discussing the benefits and limitations of genetic testing as well as recurrence risk.
Genetic Testing
Clinical genetic testing for susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease is currently unavailable. For more information on the genetics of IBD, the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, accurate diagnosis, and recurrence risk; use our find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained genetic professional in your area.
Informational genetic testing for susceptibility to Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is available online (over the internet) as part of a whole genome scan. Whole genome scanning involves analyzing thousands of SNPs at once related to a number of different health conditions.
- At this point, many genetic professionals do not consider this testing clinically useful or medically relevant, but for informational purposes only. Go to the Tests tab to link to online providers, compare providers and read provider reviews.
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