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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects mainly the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and consists of two major subtypes, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). The incidence of UC in the United States is estimated to be 2 to 7 cases per 100,000 population per year, while CD is reported as approximately 5 cases per 100,000 population per year.1,2 While the underlying pathophysiology of IBD involves an abnormal response directed against the intestinal tract, the true cause of IBD has not been identified.2,3 Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated as contributors to the development of IBD.4 Inflammatory bowel disease has been observed to occur more commonly in patients who report a positive family history of IBD.5 Another leading theory is that the inflammatory response is induced by the local bacterial flora that inhabit the human GI tract.3-6 Ultimately, the inflammatory response results in injury to the GI tract that may vary in location, depth, severity, and duration.
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While both forms of IBD involve inflammation of the GI tract, there are some key differences between UC and CD. Ulcerative colitis is localized to the colon and is characterized by diffuse continuous mucosal inflammation with the absence of granulomatous changes.1,5 The rectal area is involved in 95% of patients with UC.1 In contrast, CD may affect any area of the GI tract, but most frequently involves the ileum or colon.2,4 The inflammation is often observed to be discontinuous in nature, resulting in "skip lesions," and often penetrates much deeper into the intestinal wall compared to UC.5 Inflammation confined to the intestinal wall is referred to as luminal CD, and may progress to fibrostenotic disease with development of strictures and luminal obstruction. Likewise, severe inflammation resulting in fistula formation occurs in 20% to 40% of patients with CD, while patients with UC do not develop fistulae.2
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Due to the location and inflammatory nature of the disease, most patients with UC will present with bloody diarrhea, urgency, and tenesmus as their main symptoms.1,4 Patients with CD may exhibit similar symptoms, but most commonly present with diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, perianal lesions, and signs of malnutrition.2 Interestingly, patients with IBD may also develop inflammation in various other organ systems, referred to as extraintestinal symptoms. Examples include arthritis, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, uveitis, episcleritis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, among others.7
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The diagnosis of IBD is based collectively on presenting signs and symptoms, along with radiographic and endoscopic findings. Endoscopy is particularly helpful in characterizing the extent and location of the disease, as well as ruling out other potential causes of intestinal inflammation. Determining where the disease is located also directly impacts selection of drug therapy. Patients with UC can be classified as having "extensive" disease if inflammation extends proximal to the splenic flexure....