Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term primarily used to describe two chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract: 


1. Crohn's disease 

2. Ulcerative colitis


Both conditions involve inflammation of the digestive tract, but they affect different areas and have distinct characteristics.



Feature

Crohn's Disease

Ulcerative Colitis

Location of

inflammation

Can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract,

from mouth to anus, but most commonly in the ileum and colon.

Confined to the colon and rectum.

Depth of

inflammation

Transmural (affects all layers of the bowel wall).

Mucosal and submucosal layers only (superficial).

Pattern of

involvement

Discontinuous ("skip lesions" or

patchy areas of inflammation).

Continuous inflammation, starting from

the rectum and extending proximally.

Symptoms

Abdominal pain, diarrhea (may be bloody),

weight loss, fever, fatigue.

Bloody diarrhea, urgency,

tenesmus, abdominal pain.

Fistulas

Common, especially perianal fistulas.

Rare

Granulomas

Present in about 25-50% of cases

(non-caseating granulomas)

Rarely present.

Strictures

Common, leading to bowel obstruction.

Rare

Fibrosis

Present 

Rare 

Anti flagellin Ab

Present 

Absent 

Pseudo polyp

Rare

Present 

Toxic

megacolon

Rare 

Present 

Antibodies 

Presence of ASCA 

Presence of p-ANCA

Endoscopic

Findings

• Cobblestone appearance

• Deep ulcers

• Strictures

• Continuous inflammation

(Pipe stem colon)

• Pseudopolyps

• Loss of haustral folds

Recurrence

after surgery

High 

No


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