Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease capable of involving the entire length of the alimentary tract. Grossly, the changes include thickened mesentery or “creeping fat,” thickened bowel wall, serosal inflammation, enlarged lymph nodes, and inflammation that involves all layers of the bowel wall. While various genetic, infectious, and immunologic etiologies have been suggested, the cause of Crohn’s disease currently remains unknown. Crohn’s is more prominent among people of Mediterranean and Northern European descent. It arises most commonly between the ages of 15 and 30, another rise in the incidence (albeit smaller) is seen in patients between the age of 55 and 60. Men and women are equally affected.