Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that can, if not adequately treated, cause swelling, ulcers and irritation in the digestive tract. Crohn’s Disease most commonly affects the end of the small intestine and beginning of the large intestine, however, inflammation can affect any part of the digestive tract.

Patients with Crohn’s Disease can experience:

The direct cause of Crohn’s Disease is unknown. However, factors like genetics and environmental determinants can play a role in disease development. Experts believe that Crohn’s Disease results from a dysregulated immune response to gut bacteria. It has been found that the composition of gut bacteria in people with Crohn’s Disease differs from that of healthy individuals. Researchers are working to characterize these differences in order to develop improved treatment options. Several risk factors associated with Crohn’s Disease include familial history, age, ethnicity, and cigarette smoking.

There is no cure for Crohn’s Disease, and treatment recommendations vary by patient due to disease severity and symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications and immunosuppressants are used to reduce inflammation and swelling in the G.I. tract. Nutritional therapy, which includes a specific diet by mouth or feeding tube, can be beneficial. If all treatment options have expired been exhausted and symptoms have not been alleviated, surgical intervention is common. Approximately 80% of patients diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease will have at least one surgery in their lifetime.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota are currently investigating if microbes from healthy donors can successfully engraft in the small intestine and colon of Crohn’s Disease patients and improve their symptoms and reduce inflammation. In addition, researchers have completed a phase 1 study to investigate whether Fecal Microbiota Transplant after surgery can prevent recurrent Crohn’s Disease.