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The true causes of Crohn’s disease are unknown but genetic factors are known to play a significant role.

Although there is currently no medical cure, a number of medications have proven effective in helping to control Crohn’s disease.

A chronic disease of the digestive system

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the body’s immune system overreacts, causing inflammation of the intestine. Crohn’s disease can associate with other health issues, such as liver problems, arthritis, and skin and eye problems.

Mostly affects the lower part of the small intestine

Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly it affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon). All layers of the intestine may be involved and between patches of diseased bowel there can be normal healthy bowel.

Also referred to as an inflammatory bowel disease

Along with Ulcerative colitis (UC), these diseases are referred to as Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In rare cases, patients have been diagnosed with both CD and UC, a condition called Crohn’s Colitis.

People with CD tend to have abnormalities of the immune system

While the exact chain of events that lead to Crohn’s disease is unknown, it is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The abnormal immune response and inflammation of the intestine lead to bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. The symptoms of CD disease vary in severity and onset, they may start gradually or suddenly.

Is most common in Europe and North America and runs in families

The risk of developing CD in one’s lifetime is 0.5% with an estimate of 400,000 to 600,000 people in North America developing CD each year. Crohn’s disease is most commonly observed in Europe and North America and the number of cases has increased over the last several decades.

Genetics play a significant role

Genetic factors are known to play a significant role in the development of CD. To date 29 genetic variants have been found that increase the risk of developing CD. One variant is located on each of the following chromosomes: 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 18 and more than one variant is located on the following chromosomes: 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 17, 21. Of these, four variants, on chromosomes 1, 3, 10 and 18, have also been associated with increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis.

deCODEme can calculate your genetic risk of Crohn’s disease

The deCODEme Complete Scan identifies the 29 variants listed above and provides interpretation of their associated risk for developing CD in customers of European descent. Currently no risk data are available for people of other ethnicities for the variants listed above.

Risk factors

The true causes of Crohn’s disease (CD) are unknown, but it seems that the immune system may be provoked by many factors, including respiratory infections or physical stress.

• Age: The prevalence of the disease is highest during the second and third decades of life, but CD can occur in people over 70 years and in childhood, although it is not common in children younger than 15 years.
• Ethnicity: Individuals of European decent are at greater risk of developing CD than other ethnic/racial groups.
• Smoking: Smoking adds to the risk for CD. Former smokers are also at greater risk than nonsmokers.
• Genetic Factors: Several genetic factors increase the risk for developing CD and having a family member with CD increases the risk of developing the disease. If a person has a relative with the disease, his or her risk is about 10 times greater than that of the general population. If the relative is a brother or sister, the risk is 30 times greater.

Changes in diet and lifestyle may help control symptoms

Preventive measures for Crohn’s disease have not been well defined. No specific diet has been shown to improve or worsen bowel inflammation in CD. However, eating a healthy amount of calories, vitamins, and protein is important to avoid malnutrition and weight loss. Foods that worsen diarrhea should be avoided. Each person may have specific foods that seem to worsen or improve symptoms.

The goal of medical treatment is to reduce the inflammation

Currently, there is no medical cure for Crohn’s disease. However, a number of medications have proven effective in helping to control the disease. These include anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, immunomodulators and antibiotics.

Biologic therapy is now approved to induce remission in CD patients who have not responded adequately to conventional therapy and also as a long term therapy with or without corticosteroids to maintain remission. Biologic therapy is based on infusion of a monoclonal antibody (infliximab) that blocks the immune system’s production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a mediator that strongly enhanches inflammation.

There is an increased risk of colon cancer associated with Crohn’s disease, in particular if the disease manifests in the colon. CD patients therefore undergo colonoscopy for routine surveillance of the colon and thus colon cancer is usually detected earlier than among the general population.

More information

You can find out more information about Crohn’s disease by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:

• The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America
• MedlinePlus Article on Crohn’s Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Patients – American College of Gastroenterology

This content was last reviewed on February 08, 2010.

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