Crohn's Disease Causes & Risk Factors

Conditions & Diseases: Digestive System

Crohn's Disease

Causes & Risk Factors

Crohn’s disease is described as an “idiopathic” disease since the causes of disease are not yet identified. Inflammation is a part of the body’s immune system responding to a "trigger." However, this "trigger" which causes inflammation has not been identified for Crohn's Disease.

Genetically, Crohn’s disease is said to have a complex linkage, since about 20-25% of patients have a relative suffering from Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis. Therefore, physicians classify Crohn’s disease as a “familial” or as a “complex” genetic disease i.e., the offspring will not copy the defective gene from each of the parent like in a “simple” genetic disease.

Genetic mutations in a gene called NOD2/CARD15 are found in people suffering from Crohn’s disease and is believed to be associated with early onset of symptoms and cause relapse after surgery (7).

Maycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), a bacterium causing intestinal disease in cattle is believed to be involved in the development of Crohn’s disease (7).

Immunological evidence suggests that those suffering from IBD lose tolerance for bacteria resulting in destruction of TH2 cells, which are responsible for the deactivation of the immune system to respond after an invasion by microorganisms leading to overreaction and consequently pain, fever and even tissue damage.

Certain environmental factors are also believed to have an impact on initial episodes or relapses. Crohn’s disease primarily affects people living in Western industrialized societies.

Risk of developing Crohn’s disease is higher in people with age group of 15-35 years with Jewish ancestry or European descent and smoking habits (7)

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com