Crohns Disease

Kyra Velasco

What is Crohns Disease?

Inflammatory disease that
involves the intestinal tract.
Mostly involves the end of the
small intestine (the ileum) and
the beginning of the colon.

The inflammation usually

affects deep tissue in the
bowel tissue.
It can skip around in the
intestinal tract and can
leave places of normal
intestine in between
diseased parts.

Causes of Crohns
Disease
The exact cause of Crohns disease is unknown.
Can get aggravated by stress and bad diet
Virus or bacterium may trigger it
An abnormal immune response may cause the immune
system to attack the cells in the digestive tract along with the
bacterium/virus.

Genetics:
Crohns is generally more prevalent in families that have a
history of it.
One or more genes make people more susceptible to it
Associated with HLA class II allele HLA-DRB1*07 and HLADRB1*01:03
These class II genes deal with the surface of immune system cells

Physiological Effects
An abnormal immune response may cause the
immune system to attack the cells in the
digestive tract along with the bacterium/virus.
The harmless bacteria in the intestines are
mistaken as harmful bacteria and the immune
system triggers an immune response.
Cells travel out of the blood and travels to the
intestines and cause inflammation.
The inflammation doesnt subside and
thickens the intestinal wall.

Symptoms
Diahhrea
Abdominal Pain and Cramps
Ulcers
Small sores

Blood in stool
Constipation (eventually leading to bowel obstruction)
General Symptoms:

Fever
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Tired easily

Cures/Treatments
No cure is known
Goal is to reduce inflammation that causes signs and symptoms
Treatments:
Surgery
Anti-Inflammatory drugs
Immune system suppressors
Suppressing the immune system decreases the inflammation
Usually used in combinations

Other medications:

Anti-diarrheals
Laxatives
Pain relievers
Iron supplements
Good nutrition
Vitamin B-12 Shots
Calcium and Vitamin D supplements

Prevalence
Affects 700,000 Americans
Both men and women are affected equally
Mostly prevalent in young adults between the ages of
15-35
Tends to run in families
Studies have shown that 5% - 20% of affected people
have first degree family members who have the disease.
Most common in people of Eastern European and Jewish
descent.
Increasingly becoming more prevalent in African
Americans.

Works Cited
"Crohn's Disease." Treatment at Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d.
Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
"HLA Gene Family." - Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d.
Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
HLA Disease AssociationsCrohns. HLA Disease
Associations. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.