Crohn’s Disease

This page gives you some general information on Crohn’s Disease as it is associated with Fistulas. Personally, I do not have Crohn’s Disease and have been tested twice for it, so of course you can get fistulas without having Crohn’s. However if you do have Crohn’s, you are more subseptable to fistulas.

There are support groups in New Zealand, see – http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.nz/

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It usually affects the intestines, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum (anus).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:While the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, the condition is linked to a problem with the body’s immune system response.

Normally, the immune system helps protect the body, but with Crohn’s disease the immune system can’t tell the difference between normal body tissue and foreign substances. The result is an overactive immune response that leads to chronic inflammation. This is called an autoimmune disorder.

People with Crohn’s disease have ongoing (chronic) inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease may occur in any area of the digestive tract. There can be healthy patches of tissue between diseased areas. The ongoing inflammation causes the intestinal wall to become thick.

There are five different types of Crohn’s disease:

• Ileocolitis is the most common form. It affects the lowest part of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon).
• Ileitis affects the ileum.
• Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the stomach and first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
• Jejunoileitis causes spotty patches of inflammation in the top half of the small intestine (jejunum).
• Crohn’s (granulomatous) colitis only affects the large intestine.

A person’s genes and environmental factors seem to play a role in the development of Crohn’s disease. The body may be overreacting to normal bacteria in the intestines.

The disease may occur at any age, but it usually occurs in people between ages 15 – 35. Risk factors include:

• Family history of Crohn’s disease
• Jewish ancestry
• Smoking

SymptomsSymptoms depend on what part of the gastrointestinal tract is affected. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can come and go with periods of flare-ups.

The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:

• Crampy abdominal pain
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Pain with passing stool (tenesmus)
• Persistent, watery diarrhea
• Unintentional weight loss

Other symptoms may include:

• Constipation
• Eye inflammation
• Fistulas (usually around the rectal area, may cause draining of pus, mucus, or stools)
• Joint pain
• Liver inflammation
• Mouth ulcers
• Rectal bleeding and bloody stools
• Skin rash
• Swollen gums

Signs and testsA physical examination may reveal an abdominal mass or tenderness, skin rash, swollen joints, or mouth ulcers. Tests to diagnose Crohn’s disease include:

• Barium enema
• Colonoscopy
• Computed tomography (CT scan) of the abdomen
• Endoscopy, including capsule endoscopy
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Enteroscopy
• Upper GI series

A stool culture may be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Albumin
• C-reactive protein
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Fecal fat
• Hemoglobin
• Liver function tests
• White blood cell count

TreatmentDIET AND NUTRITION

No specific diet has been shown to improve or worsen the bowel inflammation in Crohn’s disease. However, eating a healthy amount of calories, vitamins, and protein is important to avoid malnutrition and weight loss. Specific food problems may vary from person to person.

Certain types of foods may worsen diarrhea and gas symptoms, especially during times of active disease. Suggestions for diet during periods when symptoms are present include:

• Eat small amounts of food throughout the day.
• Drink lots of water (frequent consumption of small amounts throughout the day).
• Avoid high-fiber foods (bran, beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn).
• Avoid fatty greasy or fried foods and sauces (butter, margarine, and heavy cream).
• If your body does not digest dairy foods well, limit dairy products.
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.

People who have a blockage of the intestines may need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Those who have difficulty digesting milk sugar (lactose) may need to avoid milk products.

Ask your doctor about extra vitamins and minerals you may need:

• Iron supplements (if you are anemic)
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep your bones strong
• Vitamin B12 to prevent anemia

MEDICATIONS

Antidiarrheal drugs can help when you have very bad diarrhea. Loperamide (Imodium) can be bought without a prescription. Always talk to your doctor or nurse before using these drugs.

Medicines that may be prescribed include:

• Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are medicines that help control mild to moderate inflammation. Some forms of the drug are taken by mouth; others must be given rectally.
• Corticosteroids (prednisone and methylprednisolone) are used to treat moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. They may be taken by mouth or inserted into the rectum.
• Immunomodulators such as azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine quiet the immune system’s reaction. They help reduce the need for corticosteroids and can help heal some fistulas.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed for abscesses or fistulas.
• Biologic therapy is used to treat patients with severe Crohn’s disease that does not respond to any other types of medication. Medicines in this group include Infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), and natalizumab (Tysabri). They belong to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which help block an immune system chemical that promotes inflammation.

SURGERY

If medicines do not work, a type of surgery called bowel resection may be needed to remove a damaged or diseased part of the intestine or to drain an abscess. A procedure called anastomosis is done to connect the remaining two ends of the bowel.

Most patients with Crohn’s disease will need bowel surgery at some time. However, unlike ulcerative colitis, surgically removing the diseased portion of the intestine does not cure the condition.

Patients who have Crohn’s disease that does not respond to medications may need surgery, especially when there are complications such as:

• Bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Fistulas (abnormal connections between the intestines and another area of the body)
• Infections (abscesses)
• Narrowing (strictures)

Some patients may need surgery to remove the entire large intestine (colon), with or without the rectum.