What are idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases?

This term includes chronic inflammations of the digestive tract, with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease being the main representatives.

How are specific diseases caused?

Their exact etiology remains unknown. Genetic predisposition in combination with various environmental factors seems to contribute to their challenge. These include, but are not limited to, certain dietary habits (e.g. high animal fat consumption, low fiber intake), certain infections of the digestive tract, medications (e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics) and stress.

What are the main symptoms of these diseases?

The dominant symptom of both diseases is the disorder of bowel movements. This is characterized by the appearance of diarrhea that persists for a period of several weeks. Often, especially in ulcerative colitis, diarrhea is mixed with blood and mucus and forces patients to urgently visit the toilet. Crohn’s disease also usually causes abdominal pain, and both diseases may be associated with general symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. In fact, a percentage of patients are likely to present symptoms outside the intestinal system, such as skin rashes, joint pains, manifestations from the eyes, liver, urinary system, etc.

What should anyone who notices any of the above symptoms do?

The presence of one or more of the aforementioned symptoms for a period longer than 3-4 weeks, it is necessary to be evaluated by a specialist Gastroenterologist. He, after clinically evaluating the patient, will request further control with specific tests, in order to confirm or exclude the possibility of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Which tests are used to diagnose idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases?

Diagnosing these conditions requires a combination of blood tests, stool tests, imaging tests and, of course, endoscopies. Of central importance is the colonoscopy which allows the immediate diagnosis of inflammation in the large intestine and/or the terminal ileum (which is the last part of the small intestine) and the taking of the required biopsies. Further control of the upper digestive tract (with gastroscopy) and the performance of special imaging tests, such as magnetic enterography (in cases of Crohn’s disease) and ultrasound of the intestine, are left to the discretion of the attending Gastroenterologist. It is important to emphasize that the diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases is not made with just one examination but is the composite of all the above assessments.

What’s New in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease?

In recent years, the use of biological agents, that is, drugs that target specific mediators of inflammation, has dramatically changed the treatment of these diseases. We are pleased to report that now, in Greece as well, several of these drugs are available for subcutaneous or oral administration. That way, patients don’t have to come to the hospital repeatedly for time-consuming IV infusions and suffer or lose hours of work. In fact, the specific forms of the drugs have been shown in studies to be just as safe and effective as the corresponding intravenously administered ones.

What is the goal of the patient’s collaboration with the treating Gastroenterologist?

In any case, the goal of all our therapeutic interventions is to put the diseases in remission and to maintain it long-term. Thus, sufferers maintain their quality of life and avoid the long-term complications of these diseases.