Transmural granulomatous inflammation that can affect any part of the GI tract, skip lesions common.
Clinical features
- • Diarrhoea (often non-bloody)
- • Abdominal pain
- • Weight loss, fatigue
- • Perianal disease, fistulae
Investigations
- • FBC, CRP, ferritin, B12, folate, vitamin D
- • Faecal calprotectin
- • Ileocolonoscopy + biopsy
- • MR enterography for small bowel
Management
- • Induction: budesonide (ileocaecal), prednisolone, exclusive enteral nutrition (paeds)
- • Maintenance: azathioprine, methotrexate, biologics (anti-TNF, ustekinumab, vedolizumab)
- • Surgery for stricture / fistula / abscess
Complications
- • Strictures, fistulae, abscess
- • Malabsorption, B12 deficiency
- • Cancer risk
References
- • ECCO Crohn 2020
Educational — verify locally.
