Crohn's Disease (cont.)
What are the complications of Crohn's disease?
Complications of Crohn's disease may be related or unrelated to the
inflammation within the intestine (such as intestinal or extra-intestinal).
Intestinal complications of Crohn's disease include obstruction and perforation
of the small intestine, abscesses (collections of pus), fistulae, and intestinal
bleeding. Massive distention or dilatation of the colon (megacolon), and rupture
(perforation) of the intestine are potentially life-threatening complications.
Both generally require surgery, but, fortunately, these two complications are
rare. Recent data suggest that there is an increased risk of
cancer of the small
intestine and colon in patients with long-standing Crohn's disease.
Extra-intestinal complications involve the skin, joints, spine, eyes, liver,
and bile ducts. Skin involvement includes painful red raised spots on the legs
(erythema nodosum) and an ulcerating skin condition generally found around the
ankles called pyoderma gangrenosum. Painful eye conditions (uveitis,
episcleritis) can cause visual difficulties. Arthritis can cause pain, swelling,
and stiffness of the joints of the extremities. Inflammation of the low back
(sacroiliac joint arthritis) and of the spine (ankylosing spondylitis) can cause
pain and stiffness of the spine. Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or bile
ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis) also can occur. Sclerosing cholangitis
causes narrowing and obstruction of the ducts draining the liver and can lead to
yellow skin (jaundice), recurrent bacterial infections, and
liver cirrhosis with
liver failure. Sclerosing cholangitis with liver failure is one of the reasons
for performing liver transplantation. Sclerosing cholangitis frequently is
complicated by the development of cancer of the bile ducts.
Next: How is Crohn's disease diagnosed? »
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