NYU Langone gastroenterologist Dr. Ariela Holmer explains the five symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease you should always consult your doctor about.
Learn more about the five symptoms: https://nyulangone.org/news/five-inflammatory-bowel-disease-symptoms-you-should-never-ignore
Learn more about how we diagnose and treat inflammatory bowel disease: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease
Learn more about Dr. Holmer: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1083032544/ariela-holmer
Learn more about NYU Langone’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center: https://nyulangone.org/locations/inflammatory-bowel-disease-center Video Rating: / 5
CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook spoke with Dr. Mark Pimentel, a leading gastroenterology expert from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, whose research is uncovering roots of irritable bowel syndrome.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic chronic relapsing inflammation of the bowel that presents with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea. There are two sub-types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Interestingly, while smoking is associated with an increased risk of Crohn’s disease, it is protective for the development of ulcerative colitis.
IBD subtypes can be differentiated based on the pattern of inflammation:
โข Crohn’s disease is associated with transmural inflammation. Histopathology reveals lymphoid aggregates with noncaseating granulomas.
โข Ulcerative colitis is associated with mucosal inflammation (superficial submucosa may also be affected). Histopathology reveals crypt abscesses with neutrophils, but no granulomas.
IBD subtypes can be differentiated based on the affected location within the GI tract:
โข Crohn’s disease begins anywhere from the mouth to anus with “skip lesions”.The terminal ileum is most commonly involved while the rectum is rarely involved.
โข Ulcerative colitis begins in the rectum (always involved) and can extend up to the cecum, with continuous involvement (and sparing of the remainder of the GI tract).
IBD subtypes can be differentiated based on gross morphological appearance:
โข In Crohn disease there is “cobblestone” mucosa, strictures, and creeping fat
โข In ulcerative colitis, there are pseudopolyps
IBD subtypes can be differentiated based on imaging with barium contrast:
โข Crohn disease may present with “string sign” (due to narrowing of the lumen)
โข Ulcerative colitis may present with “lead pipe sign” (loss of haustra)
IBD subtypes can be differentiated based on associations with certain extraintestinal disorders:
โข Crohn disease is associated with calcium oxalate kidney stones and gallstones
โข Ulcerative colitis is associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis (p-ANCA positive)
Both subtypes are associated (to varying degrees) with the following disorders:
โข Pyoderma gangrenosum
โข Erythema nodosum
โข Ankylosing spondylitis
โข Uveitis
โข Aphthous ulcers
โข Arthritis
Serologic studies for the presence of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) can contribute to the differentiation of IBD subtypes. Helpful patterns are:
โข Crohn disease: ASCA-positive, p-ANCA negative
โข Ulcerative colitis: ASCA-negative, p-ANCA positive
Systemic complications of both IBD subtypes include:
โข Malnutrition due to intestinal inflammation. This is particularly common in patients with Crohn’s disease (which most commonly involves the terminal ileum) since the absorption of both vitamin B12 and bile salts occurs in the terminal ileum.
โข Adenocarcinoma of the large colon due to persistent inflammation. This can be seen in both inflammatory bowel diseases but is more common in ulcerative colitis since ulcerative colitis always involves the colon.
The risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease-associated adenocarcinoma is proportional to:
โข Disease duration (increased risk at 8-10 years)
โข Extent of colonic involvement (increased risk with pancolitis)
โข Frequency and intensity of inflammation (increased risk with more intense and frequent relapses)
There are several important GI complications more closely associated with Crohn disease, most notably the following:
โข Obstruction caused by stricture formation
โข Fistula formation
โข Perianal disease
โข Cholelithiasis
There are several important GI complications more closely associated with ulcerative colitis, most notably:
โข Toxic megacolon
โข Sclerosing cholangitis
Cutaneous pathologies that are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases include erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum.
Pyoderma gangrenosum is a neutrophilic dermatosis that appears as a purulent ulcer with a violaceous edge. The majority of patients with pyoderma gangrenosum have an associated systemic disease, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease.
