Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases are
autoimmune disorders characterized by chronic or remitting intestinal inflammation.
Ulcerative colitis is associated with inflammation of the
mucosal and submucosal layers, and is restricted to the
colon and rectum.
Crohn's disease is characterized by transmural inflammation (that is, inflammation can reach all layers of the GI tract) and can affect any segment of the
GI tract.
In some patients, inflammation is present, but the designation of ulcerative colitis vs Crohn's disease is difficult – - About 5-15% of cases are considered "indeterminant" colitis (although this may be a temporary label, as some cases will become more definitive over time).
Diagnosis relies on endoscopy.
Most patients with inflammatory bowel disease are diagnosed in their teens/early 20s; with ulcerative colitis, we see a second "peak" in patients in their 60's or 70's.
Many studies suggest a female predominance in Crohn's disease.
Genetic factors play a role in development of disease; for example, mutations in NOD2 are associated with Crohn's disease.
Environmental factors are also important (ie., diet, cigarette smoking, medications ).
As autoimmune disorders, the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have much in common. They are the result of detrimental interactions between the host immune response, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal barrier defects.
However, there are key differences in the pathogenesis of the two disorders; for example, different types of
T-helper cells are thought to play major roles in each.
Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with neoplasia, which is influenced by the duration and severity of the disease.
The so-called
"skip lesions" can affect any segment of the GI tract, but most commonly involve the ileum and colon, and the rectum is usually spared ("skip" refers to its discontinuous pattern).
We draw the GI tract in section to show
transmural inflammation with wall thickening and "creeping fat" that wraps around the GI tract.
Different types of lesions:
- Aphthous erosions – these early signs of Crohn's disease are shallow, whitish or opaque sores in the mucous membrane.
- Longitudinal, aka, rake or "bear claw" ulcers look as if someone dragged a rake down the lining of GI tract.
- Eventually, the lining of the GI tract can take on a "cobblestone" appearance, as tissue becomes so crowded with ulcers that it resembles a cobblestone sidewalk.
- Fissures in the wall form and can progress to form fistulas that open to abdominal/pelvic cavity or connect with other organs (such as the vagina).
- As a result of chronic inflammation, fibrosis of the GI wall also occurs.
Histological Features:
Crohn's disease is associated with intestinal wall crypt distortion, fissures, and, in up to 60% of cases, noncaseating granuloma formation.
Crohn's disease is characterized by Th1/Th17 cell-mediated inflammation.
Signs/Symptoms:
- Abdominal cramping (often on the right side, where the ileum meets the large intestine)
- Diarrhea (potentially bloody diarrhea)
- Fever and malaise
- Weight loss (due to malabsorption)
- Perianal lesions (25% of patients) - we show skin tags near the anus and fistulas that form in the anal canal and open to the perianal region.
Complications:
Problems related to fistulas, fissures, and obstructive strictures; dysplasia and adenocarcinoma; and, anemia from chronic blood loss.
Treatments:
Patients are advised to avoid cigarette smoking and nicotine, as nicotine exacerbates inflammation in Crohn's disease. Patients are often prescribed anti-inflammatories and/or immune suppressors; in some cases, surgery is necessary to remove parts of the colon.
UC primarily targets the colon and rectum, and is characterized by
continuous lesions (in contrast to Crohn's disease, which typically spares the rectum and causes patchy inflammation).
We draw a portion of the GI tract in section to show the
mucosal and submucosal inflammation.
Inflammation creates sunken, red/bloody ulcers with a friable or crumbly appearance (the remaining tissue of the GI tract appears as light/beige patches rising above the sunken ulcers).
Inflammation destroys the submucosal vascular network.
Mucosa is bloody when inflammation is active.
We re-draw the GI tract in cross section to show the sunken ulcerous tissue with the remaining mucosa creating
"pseudopolyps."
Histological Features:
UC is characterized by branching and distension of the intestinal crypts, with neutrophils present during active inflammation. We show crypt abscesses with neutrophils.
UC inflammation is Th2 cell-mediated.
Signs/Symptoms:
Patients experience bloody diarrhea with rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss.
Complications:
Toxic ulceritis, toxic megacolon, and intestinal perforation.
Dysplasia and adenocarcinoma can occur and are more likely when the entire colon is involved (pancolitis).
Treatments:
Anti-inflammatories, immune suppressors, and colectomy.
Oddly enough, patients who smoke cigarettes are more likely to experience bouts of ulcerative colitis upon quitting.
Extraintestinal manifestations and complications of inflammatory bowel disease:
Most common are skin lesions (in up to 40% of patients), uveitis, and arthritis.
Less common, but potentially deadly, include involvement of the liver/gallbladder, lung, pancreas, and kidneys.
See full tutorial for references.
