Valentina Miacci VI Anno 2018/2019
Valentina Miacci VI Anno 2018/2019
Valentina Miacci VI Anno 2018/2019
VI anno 2018/2019
Definition of Croh’s Disease
C
rohn’s disease is a type of
infiammatory bowel
disease (IBD) that may
affect any part of the
gastrointestinal tract
from mouth to anus.
Crohn's disease involves the
mucosa and also deeper
layers of the intestinal
Familiar 50% ileocaecal
Tendencies 30% only terminal ileum
Incidence 20% colon only
5% anorectal, oral
50/100000
More
in Caucasians
EPIDEMIOLOGY
and
Jewish population
Age on set
15-40
50-60
The incidence Male:Female ratio
is rising 1,1-1,8 : 1
If you live in an urban area
or in an industrialized country,
you're more likely to develop
Crohn's disease
Environmental factors,
including a diet high in fat
or refined foods,
may play a role in Crohn's disease.
• The patient reports that he has experienced abdominal pain with occasional diarrhea since he
was in middle school but he often passed it off as the stomach flu. Currently, he has 10 episodes
of diarrhea per day with no blood and he wakes up with abdominal pain and diarrhea about 3
times per night. He does not report any urgency, incomplete emptying or incontinence. There is a
low grade temperature of 99.7°F on most days. His weight has dropped by 18 pounds, and has
been more pronounced in the past month.
• On further questioning, the patient describes a foul-smelling leakage from the perineum which
is greenish yellow on most days for the past two weeks. He has previously noted severe rectal
pain on passage of stool in the distant past. Otherwise, he has back stiffness in the mornings
and some arthralgias of the knees, elbows and hands for the past two years.
• Currently, he is on no medications except for Advil that he takes as needed for headaches and
joint pain. He has started to take it more often this past year.
• There is a family history of Crohn’s disease in his uncle and in two of his cousins. There is no
family history of GI cancers or celiac disease. He started smoking one-quarter of a pack of
cigarettes since entering college. He also reveals that this year has been especially stressful
because he broke up with his long term girlfriend from high school and is starting to deal with a
demanding course load in engineering.
• On physical exam vital signs are normal; there is no tachycardia; he appears thin. There
is no jaundice or lymphadenopathy appreciated. The cardiovascular and respiratory exam
was unremarkable. On abdominal exam, bowel sounds were present and the abdomen was
benign except for some mild tenderness in the right lower quadrant. No skin lesions
could be appreciated. The rectal exam showed a perianal fistula at the 3 o'clock position
that drained pus on gentle pressure.
• The laboratory workup reveals a WBC of 12.3 k/uL, Hb 9.8 g/dL and Plt 480 k/uL.
Electrolyte analysis revealed potassium of 3.2 mmol/L. The other electrolytes and liver
enzymes were otherwise normal. Stool cultures for cultures and sensitivity, ova and
parasites, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Clostridium difficile were all negative.