The term inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) refers to a group of diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are associated with chronic inflammation of the gut. There is no known cure for IBD. The inflammation that involves the gastrointestinal tract results in many symptoms including abdominal pain, bleeding from the intestine, anemia and weight loss; symptoms that have a grave impact on an individual’s quality of life. Patients may also experience symptoms outside the intestine including arthritis, liver problems or skin problems. People with IBD may experience times of remission of their symptoms that are punctuated by acute flare-ups of active symptoms. According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), the average likelihood of a flare-up in any one year is about 30%.
History of IBD
Crohn’s disease (CD) was first described in 1932 by Dr. Burrill Crohn. CD is characterized by inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, right from the mouth to the anus (gums to bums). The inflammation also impacts all intestinal layers, from the inner layer or lining all the way to the outer layer. Because of the variety in locations of the inflammation, symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary significantly between patients. Many patients will require surgery to remove part of their intestine over time.
In 1875, Sir William Wilks first introduced the term “ulcerative colitis” into usage. Ulcerative colitis (UC) typically only affects the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract, specifically in the colon. It usually starts at the rectum and extends upwards to include the entire colon. Symptoms of UC are similar to those of CD, but one of the most typical symptoms of UC is frequent “false urges”. These false urges are experienced as a pressing need to have a bowel movement when there is little or no feces to expel. UC patients also usually do not experience pain during remission, while CD patients more frequently do.
IBD Today
Patients afflicted by CD and UC are commonly on lifelong medications. These medications may include drugs that suppress the immune system, steroids, or biologicals aimed to reduce inflammation. Many IBD patients may also undergo operations to remove diseased bowel (called a “resection”). Though the surgery may remove symptoms, especially in the case of ulcerative colitis, this has not cured the underlying cause of the IBD. There currently is no cure for IBD because the cause of IBD is unknown, though researchers now believe that it occurs due to an interaction between a patient’s genes, the environment and microbes.
Over the past two decades the prevalence of IBD has climbed steadily, and Canada now has one of the world’s highest incidences of IBD. The CCFC conservatively estimates that approximately 170,000 Canadian men, women and children have IBD. Of these people, 20% of them have required hospitalization within the last year. IBD afflicts people in the prime of their lives (between the ages of 15–25 or from 45–55), often preventing them from gainful employment and leading to long-term disability. The impact of IBD on patients’ quality of life is immeasurable, and the associated health care costs are staggering.
