Inflammatory bowel disease

Template:About Template:Cs1 config Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox medical condition (new) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) being the principal types.<ref name="Talley 2018 p.">Template:Cite book</ref> Crohn's disease affects the small intestine and large intestine, as well as the mouth, esophagus, stomach and the anus, whereas UC primarily affects the colon and the rectum.<ref name="pmid17499605">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=Baumgart>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid17653185">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Signs and symptoms

Template:Symptoms in CD vs. UC In spite of Crohn's and UC being very different diseases, both may present with any of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, severe internal cramps/muscle spasms in the region of the pelvis and weight loss. Anemia is the most prevalent extraintestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).<ref name="pmid22882911">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid20924367">Template:Cite journal</ref> Associated complaints or diseases include arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS).<ref name="pmid22874844">Template:Cite journal</ref> Associations with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)<ref name=Warner>Template:Cite web</ref> and bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) have also been reported.<ref name="pmid24415866">Template:Cite journal</ref> Diagnosis is generally by assessment of inflammatory markers in stool followed by colonoscopy with biopsy of pathological lesions.<ref name="pmid23161307">Template:Cite journal</ref> Template:Findings in CD vs. UC

Causes

Template:Pathophysiology in CD vs. UC IBD is a complex disease which arises as a result of the interaction of environmental and genetic factors leading to immunological responses and inflammation in the intestine.<ref name="pmid17499605" />

Diet

People living with IBD are very interested in diet, but little is known about the impact of diet on these patients. Recent reviews underlined the important role of nutritional counselling in IBD patients. Patients should be encouraged to adopt diets that are best supported by evidence and involve monitoring for the objective resolution of inflammation.<ref name="Ananthakrishnan-2022">Ananthakrishnan AN, Kaplan GG, Bernstein CN, Burke KE, Lochhead PJ, Sasson AN, Agrawal M, Tiong JHT, Steinberg J, Kruis W, Steinwurz F, Ahuja V, Ng SC, Rubin DT, Colombel JF, Gearry R; International Organization for Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Lifestyle, behaviour, and environmental modification for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: an International Organization for Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases consensus. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Apr 26:S2468-1253(22)00021-8.</ref><ref name="Roncoroni-2022">Roncoroni L, Gori R, Elli L, Tontini GE, Doneda L, Norsa L, Cuomo M, Lombardo V, Scricciolo A, Caprioli F, Costantino A, Scaramella L, Vecchi M. Nutrition in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):751.</ref>

A 2022 study found that diets with increased intake of fruits and vegetables, reduction of processed meats and refined carbohydrates, and preference of water for hydration were associated with lower risk of active symptoms with IBD, although increased intake of fruits and vegetables alone did not reduce risk of symptoms with Crohn's disease.<ref name="pmid35092268">Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2022 scientific review also found generally positive outcomes for IBD patients who adhered to the Mediterranean diet (high fruit and vegetable intake).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Dietary patterns are associated with a risk for ulcerative colitis. In particular, subjects who were in the highest tertile of the healthy dietary pattern had a 79% lower risk of ulcerative colitis.<ref name="pmid29468761">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Gluten sensitivity is common in IBD and associated with having flareups. Gluten sensitivity was reported in 23.6% and 27.3% of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients, respectively.<ref name="pmid29216767">Template:Cite journal</ref>

A diet high in protein, particularly animal protein, and/or high in sugar may be associated with increased risk of IBD and relapses.<ref name="pmid22055893">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Barron-2021">Template:Cite web</ref>

Bile acids

Emerging evidence indicates that bile acids are important etiological agents in IBD pathogenesis.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> IBD patients have a consistent pattern of an increased abundance of primary bile acids such as cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid (and their conjugated forms), and a decreased abundance of secondary bile acids such as lithocholic acid and deoxycholic acid.<ref name=":0" />

Microbiota

The human microbiota consists of 10–100 trillion microorganisms.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Several studies have confirmed that the microbiota composition is different in patients with IBD compared to healthy individuals.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> This difference is more pronounced in patients with Crohn's disease than in those with ulcerative colitis.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In IBD patients, there is a decrease or absence of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, Eubacterium rectale, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Roseburia intestinalis, while harmful species like Bacteroides fragilis, Ruminococcus torques, and Ruminococcus are more abundant.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The activation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species leads to oxidative stress for both host cells and the gut microbiome. Consequently, in IBD, there is a microbial imbalance, known as dysbiosis, characterized by an increase in functional pathways involved in the microbial response to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress can promote the growth of certain species such as R. gnavus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Another opportunistic bacterium called A. muciniphila contributes to IBD development and is more prevalent in individuals lacking NOD-like receptor 6 (NLRP6).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Both R. gnavus and A. muciniphila are bacterial species that are more abundant in IBD. Patients with IBD often exhibit stronger antibody and T-cell responses to microbial antigens.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The gut microbiome employs various approaches to interact with the host immune system. For instance, B. fragilis, which is symbiotic in humans, can transfer immune regulatory molecules to immune cells through the secretion of outer membrane vesicles. This mechanism plays a protective role in IBD by activating the non-classical autophagy pathway, dependent on Atg16L1 and NOD2 genes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> B. thetaiotaomicron induces the differentiation of T regulatory cells (Tregs) to modulate gut immunity, thus increasing the expression of Gata3 and FoxP3 genes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The colonization of Clostridium spp. can enhance the aggregation of RORγT+ FOXP3 Treg cells, which inhibit the development of Th2 and Th17 cells. Ultimately, this colonization could decrease the response of colonic Th2 and Th17 cells.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Also F. prausnitzii attracts CD4 and CD8a (DP8α) regulatory T cells.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> E. coli Nissle 1917 has the capability to inhibit the growth of Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. It prevents these pathogens from adhering to and invading intestinal epithelial cells, which significantly reduces the likelihood of inflammation in the gut and may also prevent the onset of IBD.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Breach of intestinal barrier

Template:Further Loss of integrity of the intestinal epithelium plays a key pathogenic role in IBD.<ref name="pmid21677746">Template:Cite journal</ref> Dysfunction of the innate immune system as a result of abnormal signaling through immune receptors called toll-like receptors (TLRs)—which activates an immune response to molecules that are broadly shared by multiple pathogens—contributes to acute and chronic inflammatory processes in IBD colitis and associated cancer.<ref name="pmid20803699">Template:Cite journal</ref> Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota are an important environmental factor in the development of IBD. Detrimental changes in the intestinal microbiota induce an inappropriate (uncontrolled) immune response that results in damage to the intestinal epithelium. Breaches in this critical barrier (the intestinal epithelium) allow further infiltration of microbiota that, in turn, elicit further immune responses. IBD is a multifactorial disease that is nonetheless driven in part by an exaggerated immune response to gut microbiota that causes defects in epithelial barrier function.<ref name="pmid25593900">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Oxidative stress and DNA damage

Oxidative stress and DNA damage likely have a role in the pathophysiology of IBD.<ref name="pmid26193347">Template:Cite journal</ref> Oxidative DNA damage as measured by 8-OHdG levels was found to be significantly increased in people with IBD compared to healthy controls, and in inflamed mucosa compared with noninflamed mucosa.<ref name="pmid26193347"/> Antioxidant capacity as measured by the total action of all antioxidants detected in blood plasma or body fluids was found to be significantly decreased in people with IBD compared to healthy controls, and in inflamed mucosa compared with noninflamed mucosa.<ref name="pmid26193347" />

Genetics

File:Associatedloci.png

Associated loci pane. Pink genes are in IBD associated loci, blue are not.

A genetic component to IBD has been recognized for over a century.<ref name="pmid25331623">Template:Cite journal</ref> Research that has contributed to understanding of the genetics include studies of ethnic groups (e.g., Ashkenazi Jews, Irish), familial clustering, epidemiological studies, and twin studies. With the advent of molecular genetics, understanding of the genetic basis has expanded considerably, particularly in the past decade.<ref name="pmid26907531" /> The first gene linked to IBD was NOD2 in 2001.

Genome-wide association studies have since added to understanding of the genomics and pathogenesis of the disease. More than 200 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs or "snips") are now known to be associated with susceptibility to IBD.<ref name="pmid27156530">Template:Cite journal</ref> One of the largest genetic studies of IBD was published in 2012.<ref name="pmid23128233">Template:Cite journal</ref> The analysis explained more of the variance in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis than previously reported.<ref name="pmid26907531">Template:Cite journal</ref> The results suggested that commensal microbiota are altered in such a way that they act as pathogens in inflammatory bowel diseases. Other studies show that mutations in IBD-associated genes might interfere with the cellular activity and interactions with the microbiome that promote normal immune responses.<ref name="pmid27230380">Template:Cite journal</ref> Many studies identified that microRNAs dysregulation involved in IBD and to promote colorectal cancer.<ref name="pmid33921348">Template:Cite journal</ref> By 2020, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was launched by a small consortium using IBD patient biopsy material in a search for therapeutic targets.<ref name="genomeweb-2020">Template:Cite news</ref>

According to an article published on Nature, ETS2 gene plays a vital role in the development of the disease.<ref name="Nature-2024">Template:Cite news</ref>

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually confirmed by biopsies on colonoscopy. Fecal calprotectin is useful as an initial investigation, which may suggest the possibility of IBD, as this test is sensitive but not specific for IBD.<ref name="pmid23670113">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid24286461">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Classification

Inflammatory bowel diseases are autoimmune diseases, in which the body's own immune system attacks elements of the digestive system.<ref name="IBD-Facts">Template:Cite web</ref> The chief types of IBD are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).<ref name="pmid25075198">Template:Cite journal</ref> Several other conditions are variously referred to either as being inflammatory bowel diseases or as being similar to but distinct from inflammatory bowel diseases. These conditions include:

• Microscopic colitis<ref name="pmid23864791">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid24407107">Template:Cite journal</ref> with subtypes
  • Collagenous colitis
  • Lymphocytic colitis
• Diversion colitis<ref name="Dilke Segal Tozer Vaizey 2020 pp. 266–271">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• Behçet's disease<ref name="pmid26632379">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Differential diagnosis

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both common differential diagnoses for the other, and confidently diagnosing a patient with one of the two diseases may sometimes not be possible. No disease specific markers are currently known in the blood that would enable the reliable separation of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.<ref name="pmid24696607">Template:Cite journal</ref> Physicians tell the difference between Crohn's disease and UC by the location and nature of the inflammatory changes. Crohn's can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus (skip lesions), although a majority of the cases start in the terminal ileum. Ulcerative colitis, in contrast, is restricted to the colon and the rectum.<ref name="Crohn's-Colitis Foundation of America">Template:Cite web</ref> Microscopically, ulcerative colitis is restricted to the mucosa (epithelial lining of the gut), while Crohn's disease affects the full thickness of the bowel wall ("transmural lesions"). Lastly, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis present with extra-intestinal manifestations (such as liver problems, arthritis, skin manifestations and eye problems) in different proportions.<ref name="pmid27979414">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 10–15% of cases, a definitive diagnosis neither of Crohn's disease nor of ulcerative colitis can be made because of idiosyncrasies in the presentation. In these cases, a diagnosis of indeterminate colitis may be made.<ref name="pmid15563659">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Irritable bowel syndrome can present with similar symptoms as either disease, as can nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) enteritis and intestinal tuberculosis. Conditions that can be mistaken particularly for Crohn's disease include Behçet's disease and coeliac disease, while conditions that can be symptomatically similar to ulcerative colitis in particular include acute self-limiting colitis, amebic colitis, schistosomiasis and colon cancer.<ref name=WGO-IBD>Template:Cite web</ref> Other diseases may cause an increased excretion of fecal calprotectin, such as infectious diarrhea, untreated celiac disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, intestinal cystic fibrosis and neoplastic pediatric tumor cells.<ref name="pmid24175291">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Liver function tests are often elevated in IBD, and are often mild and generally return spontaneously to normal levels.<ref name="pmid24966712">Template:Cite journal</ref> The most relevant mechanisms of elevated liver functions tests in IBD are drug-induced hepatotoxicity and fatty liver.<ref name="pmid24966712"/>

Treatment

Surgery

CD and UC are chronic inflammatory diseases, and are not medically curable.<ref name="pmid21464096">Template:Cite journal</ref> However, ulcerative colitis can in most cases be cured by proctocolectomy, although this may not eliminate extra-intestinal symptoms. An ileostomy will collect feces in a bag. Alternatively, a pouch can be created from the small intestine; this serves as the rectum and prevents the need for a permanent ileostomy. Between one-quarter and one-half of patients with ileo-anal pouches do have to manage occasional or chronic pouchitis.<ref name="Mayo-Clinic-2018">Template:Cite web</ref>

Surgery cannot cure Crohn's disease but may be needed to treat complications such as abscesses, strictures or fistulae.<ref name="Karimuddin">Template:Cite web</ref> Severe cases may require surgery, such as bowel resection, strictureplasty or a temporary or permanent colostomy or ileostomy. In Crohn's disease, surgery involves removing the worst inflamed segments of the intestine and connecting the healthy regions, but unfortunately, it does not cure Crohn's or eliminate the disease. At some point after the first surgery, Crohn's disease can recur in the healthy parts of the intestine, usually at the resection site.<ref name="Mayo-Clinic-2022">Template:Cite web</ref> (For example, if a patient with Crohn's disease has an ileocecal anastomosis, in which the caecum and terminal ileum are removed and the ileum is joined to the ascending colon, their Crohn's will nearly always flare-up near the anastomosis or in the rest of the ascending colon).<ref name="pmid20532706">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Medical therapies

Medical treatment of IBD is individualised to each patient.<ref name="pmid21464096" /> The choice of which drugs to use and by which route to administer them (oral, rectal, injection, infusion) depends on factors including the type, distribution, and severity of the patient's disease, as well as other historical and biochemical prognostic factors, and patient preferences. For example, mesalazine is more useful in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn's disease.<ref name=agabegi2nd/> Generally, depending on the level of severity, IBD may require immunosuppression to control the symptoms, with drugs such as prednisone, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF inhibitors),<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> azathioprine, methotrexate, or 6-mercaptopurine.<ref name="pmid22573191">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Steroids, such as the glucocorticoid prednisone, are frequently used to control disease flares and were once acceptable as a maintenance drug. Biological therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, especially the TNF inhibitors, are used in people with more severe or resistant Crohn's disease and sometimes in ulcerative colitis.<ref name="pmid21045814">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Treatment is usually started by administering drugs with high anti-inflammatory effects, such as prednisone. Once the inflammation is successfully controlled, another drug to keep the disease in remission, such as mesalazine in UC, is the main treatment. If further treatment is required, a combination of an immunosuppressive drug (such as azathioprine) with mesalazine (which may also have an anti-inflammatory effect) may be needed, depending on the patient. Controlled release budesonide is used for mild ileal Crohn's disease.<ref name="pmid21464096" />

Nutritional and dietetic therapies

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is a first-line therapy in pediatric Crohn's disease with weaker data in adults.<ref name="pmid28131521">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="pmid29398336">Template:Cite journal</ref> Evidence supporting exclusive enteral nutrition in ulcerative colitis is lacking.<ref name="pmid28131521" />Template:Rp

Nutritional deficiencies play a prominent role in IBD. Malabsorption, diarrhea, and GI blood loss are common features of IBD. Deficiencies of B vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, and key minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and selenium are extremely common and benefit from replacement therapy. Low serum levels of alanine transaminase can be a marker of sarcopenia which is underdiagnosed in patients with IBD and associated with a higher disease activity.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Anemia is commonly present in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Due to raised levels of inflammatory cytokines which lead to the increased expression of hepcidin, parenteral iron is the preferred treatment option as it bypasses the gastrointestinal system, has lower incidence of adverse events and enables quicker treatment. Hepcidin itself is also an anti-inflammatory agent. In the murine model very low levels of iron restrict hepcidin synthesis, worsening the inflammation that is present.<ref name="pmid21628413">Template:Cite journal</ref> Enteral nutrition has been found to be efficient to improve hemoglobin level in patients with IBD, especially combined with erythropoietin.<ref name="pmid23064018">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Gastrointestinal bleeding, occurring especially during ulcerative colitis relapse, can contribute to anemia when chronic, and may be life-threatening when acute. To limit the possible risk of dietary intake disturbing hemostasis in acute gastrointestinal bleeding, temporary fasting is often considered necessary in hospital settings.<ref name="pmid21252654">Template:Cite journal</ref> The effectiveness of this approach is unknown; a Cochrane review in 2016 found no published clinical trials including children.<ref name="pmid27197069">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and people with more severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease often have lower vitamin D levels. It is not clear if vitamin D deficiency causes inflammatory bowel disease or is a symptom of the disease.<ref name="pmid37781953">Template:Cite journal</ref> There is some evidence that vitamin D supplementation therapy may be associated with improvements in scores for clinical inflammatory bowel disease activity and biochemical markers.<ref name="pmid37781953" /> Vitamin D treatment may be associated with less inflammatory bowel disease reoccurrence of symptoms (relapse). It is not clear if this treatment improves the person's quality of life or what the clinical response to vitamin D treatment. The ideal treatment regime and dose of vitamin D therapy has not been well enough studied.<ref name="pmid37781953" />

Dietary interventions can be beneficial for symptom management. For mild to moderate Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the Mediterranean diet has shown promise in reducing symptoms and inflammation.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) was developed to reduce symptoms and inflammation.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The CD-TREAT diet is a diet designed to recreate the effects of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) by using whole foods.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2016, it was suggested that the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) can relieve symptoms,<ref name="pmid25569442">Template:Cite journal</ref> but later studies have shown it no more effective than the Mediterranean diet and much more restrictive.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The low-FODMAP diet can reduce symptoms but does not decrease inflammatory markers.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The IBD anti-inflammatory diet (IBD-AID) has been explored as a management option.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The autoimmune protocol diet (AIP) has also shown some promise.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Dietary fiber interventions, such as psyllium supplementation (a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers), may relieve symptoms as well as induce/maintain remission by altering the microbiome composition of the GI tract, thereby improving regulation of immune function, reducing inflammation, and helping to restore the intestinal mucosal lining.<ref name="pmid27314323">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Microbiome

There is preliminary evidence of an infectious contribution to IBD in some patients that may benefit from antibiotic therapy, such as with rifaximin.<ref name="pmid29865875">Template:Cite journal</ref> The evidence for a benefit of rifaximin is mostly limited to Crohn's disease with less convincing evidence supporting use in ulcerative colitis.<ref name="pmid26202194">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid26618923">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The use of oral probiotic supplements to modify the composition and behaviour of the microbiome has been considered as a possible therapy for both induction and maintenance of remission in people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A Cochrane review in 2020 did not find clear evidence of improved remission likelihood, nor lower adverse events, in people with Crohn's disease, following probiotic treatment.<ref name="pmid32678465">Template:Cite journal</ref>

For ulcerative colitis, there is low-certainty evidence that probiotic supplements may increase the probability of clinical remission.<ref name="pmid32128795">Template:Cite journal</ref> People receiving probiotics were 73% more likely to experience disease remission and over 2x as likely to report improvement in symptoms compared to those receiving a placebo, with no clear difference in minor or serious adverse effects.<ref name="pmid32128795" /> Although there was no clear evidence of greater remission when probiotic supplements were compared with 5‐aminosalicylic acid treatment as a monotherapy, the likelihood of remission was 22% higher if probiotics were used in combination with 5-aminosalicylic acid therapy.<ref name="pmid32128795" /> Whereas in people who are already in remission, it is unclear whether probiotics help to prevent future relapse, either as a monotherapy or combination therapy.<ref name="pmid32128794">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Fecal microbiota transplant is a relatively new treatment option for IBD which has attracted attention since 2010.<ref name="pmid30214266">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid25223604">Template:Cite journal</ref> Some preliminary studies have suggested benefits similar to those in Clostridioides difficile infection but a review of use in IBD shows that FMT is safe, but of variable efficacy. Systematic reviews showed that 33% of ulcerative colitis, and 50% of Crohn's disease patients reach clinical remission after fecal microbiota transplant.<ref name="pmid29696802">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine approaches have been used in inflammatory bowel disorders.<ref name="pmid24813226">Template:Cite journal</ref> Evidence from controlled studies of these therapies has been reviewed; risk of bias was quite heterogeneous. The best supportive evidence was found for herbal therapy, with Plantago ovata and curcumin in UC maintenance therapy, wormwood in CD, mind/body therapy and self-intervention in UC, and acupuncture in UC and CD.<ref name="pmid25518050">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Novel approaches

Stem cell therapy is undergoing research as a possible treatment for IBD. A review of studies suggests a promising role, although there are substantial challenges, including cost and characterization of effects, which limit the current use in clinical practice.<ref name="pmid26230863">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Psychological interventions

Patients with IBD have a higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders compared to the general population, women with IBD are more likely than men to develop affective disorders since up to 65% of them may have depression and anxiety disorder.<ref name="doi.org">Fracas E, Costantino A, Vecchi M, Buoli M. Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Are There Any Gender Differences? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(13):6255. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136255</ref><ref>Barberio B, Zamani M, Black CJ, Savarino EV, Ford AC. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 May;6(5):359-370. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00014-5</ref> Currently, there is no evidence to recommend psychological treatment, such as psychotherapy, stress management and patient's education, to all adults with IBD in general.<ref name="pmid21328288">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Update inline These treatments had no effect on quality of life, emotional well-being and disease activity.<ref name="pmid21328288"/> The need for these approaches should be individually assessed and further researched to identify subgroups and determine type of therapy that may benefit individuals with IBD.<ref name="pmid21328288"/> In adolescents population such treatments may be beneficial on quality of life and depression, although only short-term effects have been found, which also imposes the need for further research.<ref name="pmid21328288"/>

A meta analysis of interventions to improve mood (including talking therapy, antidepressants, and exercise) in people with IBD found that they reduced inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and faecal calprotectin. Psychological therapies reduced inflammation more than antidepressants or exercise.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Treatment standards

Crohn's and Colitis Australia, the peak body for IBD in Australia, where prevalence is one of the highest in the world, reviewed the quality of care for patients admitted to Australian hospitals. They found that only one hospital met accepted standards for multidisciplinary care, but that care was improved with the availability of even minimal specialised services.<ref name="pmid30525299">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Prognosis

Template:Complications of CD vs. UC While IBD can limit quality of life because of pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, it is rarely fatal on its own. Fatalities due to complications such as toxic megacolon, bowel perforation and surgical complications are also rare.<ref name="pmid3871126">Template:Cite journal</ref> Fatigue is a common symptom of IBD and can be a burden.<ref name="pmid32297974">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Around one-third of individuals with IBD experience persistent gastrointestinal symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the absence of objective evidence of disease activity.<ref name="pmid22929759">Template:Cite journal</ref> Despite enduring the side-effects of long-term therapies, this cohort has a quality of life that is not significantly different to that of individuals with uncontrolled, objectively active disease, and escalation of therapy to biological agents is typically ineffective in resolving their symptoms.<ref name="pmid27189912">Template:Cite journal</ref> The cause of these IBS-like symptoms is unclear, but it has been suggested that changes in the gut-brain axis, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and the gut flora may be partially responsible.<ref name="pmid27799880">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Update inline

While patients of IBD do have an increased risk of colorectal cancer, this is usually caught much earlier than the general population in routine surveillance of the colon by colonoscopy, and therefore patients are much more likely to survive.<ref name="pmid22523611">Template:Cite journal</ref>

New evidence suggests that patients with IBD may have an elevated risk of endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery disease.<ref name="pmid22840916">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid19121648">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The goal of treatment is toward achieving remission, after which the patient is usually switched to a lighter drug with fewer potential side effects. Every so often, an acute resurgence of the original symptoms may appear; this is known as a "flare-up". Depending on the circumstances, it may go away on its own or require medication. The time between flare-ups may be anywhere from weeks to years, and varies wildly between patients – a few have never experienced a flare-up.<ref name="nhs.uk-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>

Life with IBD can be challenging; however, many with the condition lead relatively normal lives. IBD carries a psychological burden due to stigmatization of being diagnosed, leading to high levels of anxiety, depression, and a general reduction in the quality of life.<ref name="Kemp-2012">Kemp K, Griffiths J, Lovell K. Understanding the health and social care needs ofpeople living with IBD: a meta-synthesis of the evidence. World J Gastroenterol2012;18:6240–9.</ref><ref name="Borghi-2021">Borghi L., Poli S., Furfaro F., Allocca M., Vegni E.A.M. Psychological Challenges for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychosom. Med.. 2021;83(4):397-398. Template:Doi</ref> Although living with IBD can be difficult, there are numerous resources available to help families navigate the ins and out of IBD, such as the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

Epidemiology

IBD resulted in a global total of 51,000 deaths in 2013 and 55,000 deaths in 1990.<ref name="pmid25530442">Template:Cite journal</ref> The increased incidence of IBD since World War II has been correlated to the increase in meat consumption worldwide, supporting the claim that animal protein intake is associated with IBD.<ref name="pmid20461067">Template:Cite journal</ref> However, there are many environmental risk factors that have been linked to the increased and decreased risk of IBD, such as smoking, air pollution and greenspace, urbanization and Westernization.<ref name="pmid31294381">Template:Cite journal</ref> Inflammatory bowel diseases are increasing in Europe.<ref name="pmid23395397">Template:Cite journal</ref> Incidence and prevalence of IBD has risen steadily for the last decades in Asia, which could be related changes in diet and other environmental factors.<ref name="pmid33527789">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Around 0.8% of people in the UK have IBD.<ref name="www.bsg.org.uk">British Society of Gastroenterology https://www.bsg.org.uk/covid-19-advice/bsg-advice-for-management-of-inflammatory-bowel-diseases-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ Template:Webarchive</ref> Similarly, around 270,000 (0.7%) of people in Canada have IBD,<ref name="crohnsandcolitis.ca">Crohn's and Colitis Canada 2018 Impact of IBD in Canada Report. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/About-Us/Resources-Publications/Impact-of-IBD-Report/ Template:Webarchive</ref> with that number expected to rise to 400,000 (1%) by 2030.<ref name="pmid30639677">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Research

The following treatment strategies are not used routinely, but appear promising in some forms of IBD.

Initial reports<ref name="pmid14499784">Template:Cite journal</ref> suggest that helminthic therapy may not only prevent but even control IBD: a drink with roughly 2,500 ova of the Trichuris suis helminth taken twice monthly decreased symptoms markedly in many patients. It is even speculated that an effective "immunization" procedure could be developed—by ingesting the cocktail at an early age.<ref name="pmid23178819">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Prebiotics and probiotics are focusing increasing interest as treatments for IBD. Currently, there is evidence to support the use of certain probiotics in addition to standard treatments in people with ulcerative colitis but there is no sufficient data to recommend probiotics in people with Crohn's disease. Both single strain and multi-strain probiotics have been researched for mild to moderate cases of ulcerative colitis. The most clinically researched multi-strain probiotic with over 70 human trials is the De Simone Formulation.<ref name="pmid20517305">Template:Cite journal</ref> Further research is required to identify specific probiotic strains or their combinations and prebiotic substances for therapies of intestinal inflammation.<ref name="pmid25525379"/>

Currently, the probiotic strain, frequency, dose and duration of the probiotic therapy are not established.<ref name="pmid26900283">Template:Cite journal</ref> In severely ill people with IBD there is a risk of the passage of viable bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to the internal organs (bacterial translocation) and subsequent bacteremia, which can cause serious adverse health consequences.<ref name="pmid26900283" /> Live bacteria might not be essential because of beneficial effects of probiotics seems to be mediated by their DNA and by secreted soluble factors, and their therapeutic effects may be obtained by systemic administration rather than oral administration.<ref name="pmid26900283" /><ref name="pmid15930982">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 2005 New Scientist published a joint study by Bristol University and the University of Bath on the apparent healing power of cannabis on IBD. Reports that cannabis eased IBD symptoms indicated the possible existence of cannabinoid receptors in the intestinal lining, which respond to molecules in the plant-derived chemicals. CB1 cannabinoid receptors – which are known to be present in the brain – exist in the endothelial cells which line the gut, it is thought that they are involved in repairing the lining of the gut when damaged.<ref name="pmid16083701">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The team deliberately damaged the cells to cause inflammation of the gut lining and then added synthetically produced cannabinoids; the result was that gut started to heal: the broken cells were repaired and brought back closer together to mend the tears. It is believed that in a healthy gut, natural endogenous cannabinoids are released from endothelial cells when they are injured, which then bind to the CB1 receptors. The process appears to set off a wound-healing reaction, and when people use cannabis, the cannabinoids bind to these receptors in the same way.<ref name="pmid16083701"/>

Previous studies have shown that CB1 receptors located on the nerve cells in the gut respond to cannabinoids by slowing gut motility, therefore reducing the painful muscle contractions associated with diarrhea. CB2, another cannabinoid receptor predominantly expressed by immune cells, was detected in the gut of people with IBD at a higher concentration. These receptors, which also respond to chemicals in cannabis, appear to be associated with apoptosis – programmed cell death – and may have a role in suppressing the overactive immune system and reducing inflammation by mopping up excess cells.<ref name="pmid16083701"/>

Activation of the endocannabinoid system was found efficient in ameliorating colitis and increasing the survival rate of mice, and reducing remote organ changes induced by colitis, further suggest that modulation of this system is a potential therapeutic approach for IBDs and the associated remote organ lesions.<ref name="pmid29285108">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Alicaforsen is a first generation antisense oligodeoxynucleotide designed to bind specifically to the human ICAM-1 messenger RNA through Watson-Crick base pair interactions in order to subdue expression of ICAM-1.<ref name="pmid7511650">Template:Cite journal</ref> ICAM-1 propagates an inflammatory response promoting the extravasation and activation of leukocytes (white blood cells) into inflamed tissue.<ref name="pmid7511650"/> Increased expression of ICAM-1 has been observed within the inflamed intestinal mucosa of people with ulcerative colitis, pouchitis and Crohn's, where ICAM-1 over production correlated with disease activity.<ref name="pmid7541009">Template:Cite journal</ref> This suggests that ICAM-1 is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of these diseases.<ref name="pmid16669956">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid22205271">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonists are found to decrease the induction of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 surface expression in human brain tissues and primary human brain endothelial cells (BMVEC) exposed to various pro-inflammatory mediators.<ref name="pmid22442067">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 2014, an alliance among the Broad Institute, Amgen and Massachusetts General Hospital formed with the intention to "collect and analyze patient DNA samples to identify and further validate genetic targets."<ref name="Gen. Eng. Biotechnol. News">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2015, a meta-analysis on 938 IBD patients and 953 controls, IBD was significantly associated with having higher odds of vitamin D deficiency.<ref name="pmid26348447">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Gram-positive bacteria present in the lumen could be associated with extending the time of relapse for ulcerative colitis.<ref name="pmid25525379">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Bidirectional pathways between depression and IBD have been suggested <ref name="pmid28539843">Template:Cite journal</ref> and psychological processes have been demonstrated to influence self-perceived physical and psychological health over time.<ref name="pmid28980414">Template:Cite journal</ref> IBD-disease activity may impact quality of life and over time may significantly affect individual's mental well-being, which may be related to the increased risk to develop anxiety and/or depression.<ref name="pmid28539843" /><ref name="pmid33446900">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid31083476">Template:Cite journal</ref> On the other hand, psychological distress may also influence IBD activity.<ref name="pmid26841224">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Higher rates of anxiety and depression are observed among those with IBD compared to healthy individuals, which correlated with disease severity.<ref name="pmid33446900" /><ref name="pmid26841224"/> Part of this phenotypic correlation is due to a shared genetic overlap between IBD and psychiatric comorbidities.<ref name="pmid35086532">Template:Cite journal</ref> Moreover, anxiety and depression rates increase during active disease compared with inactive phases.<ref name="pmid26841224"/>

Flu vaccines are recommended for people with IBD in the UK; however, research suggests that vaccine uptake is low. Researchers analysed data on 13,631 adults with IBD on immune-suppressing drugs during the 2018 – 2019 flu season. Only half of this population received a vaccine during this period and few (32%) were vaccinated before the flu circulated in the community. This could be due to the belief that flu vaccines cause IBD flares; however, the same study did not find a link between vaccination and IBD flares.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In other species

IBD also occurs in dogs and is thought to arise from a combination of host genetics, intestinal microenvironment, environmental components and the immune system. There is an ongoing discussion, however, that the term "chronic enteropathy" might be better to use than "inflammatory bowel disease" in dogs because it differs from IBD in humans in how the dogs respond to treatment. For example, many dogs respond to only dietary changes compared to humans with IBD, who often need immunosuppressive treatment. Some dogs may also need immunosuppressant or antibiotic treatment when dietary changes are not enough. After having excluded other diseases that can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in dogs, intestinal biopsies are often performed to investigate what kind of inflammation is occurring (lymphoplasmacytic, eosinophilic, or granulomatous). In dogs, low levels of cobalamin in the blood have been shown to be a risk factor for negative outcome.<ref name="pmid27747868">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid17708389">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pmid21486642">Template:Cite journal</ref>

See also

• Inflammatory bowel disease-22
• World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline