Crohn's disease (CD)

Crohn’s disease (CD) causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and can lower life quality if not treated. Modern strategies focus on altering disease progression early and preventing bowel damage, not just alleviating symptoms.
Rubin et al. 2025 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 31(8): 2269-2285

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease of the human intestine resulting in significant organ damage and reduced quality of life.
Wu & Shen 2020 Front. Immunol. 11: 554880
Dell’Avalle et al. 2022 Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 31: 145-161

Crohn’s disease (CD) can affect any part of the GI tract from the oral cavity to the perianal area
Olaisen et al. 2021

10-30% Is Familial

Typical clinical scenario: abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue.
Torres et al. 2017 Lancet North Am Ed 389(10080): 1741-55

CD is characterized by segmental transmural inflammation of the intestinal mucosa that may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, most frequently affecting the ileum
Baumgart & Sandborn 2007 Lancet 18: 379-87

Causes

The cause is so far unclear.
Wu & Shen 2020 Front. Immunol. 11: 554880

CD284 (Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4)) and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) in DCs are highly expressed in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis compare to healthy controls
Ghavami et al. 2020

Inflammation, antibiotics, and diet are stressors of the gut microbiome in pediatric Crohn’s disease
Lewis et al. 2015 Cell Host Microbe. 18: 489-500

CD used to be associated with a chronic Th1 immunity
Abraham & Cho 2009a N. Engl. J. Med. 361: 2066-2078

However, after discovering the involvement of IL-23 and CD4+ Th17 cells in autoimmune inflammation of the nervous system, further mouse studies revealed prominent participation of these cells during intestinal inflammation in CD and UC
Cua et al. 2003 Nature 421(6924): 744-8
Langrish et al. 2005 J Exp Med 201(2): 233-40
Maloy & Kullberg 2008 Mucosal Immunol 1(5): 339-49

Mutation in the card15/nod2 gene has been associated with a higher risk of Crohn's disease (CD)
Hugot et al. 2001 Nature 411: 599-603

Pediatric Crohn's disease (CD)

Epidemiological studies show a significant increase in the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) in Western countries, especially among children. The pathogenesis of the disease involves host genetics and environmental factors, with diet and the intestinal microbiome being crucial etiological elements.
Renz et al. 2011 Nat Immunol 12: 273-277
Kaplan & Ng 2017 Gastroenterology 152: 313-321
Kuenzig et al. 2022 Gastroenterology 162: 1147-1159
Liu et al. 2023m Nat Genet 55: 796-806

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the first-line treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) and also shows efficacy in adult patients.
Agrawal et al. 2021 Gastroenterology 161: 47-65
Rheenen et al. 2021 Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 2021: 171-194
Bischoff et al. 2023 Clin Nutr 42: 352-379

see also:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)