Crohn's disease is a serious autoimmune inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It predominates in the intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon), but may occur in any section of the GI tract.

Symptoms Crohn’s Disease · Abdominal pain, often in the lower right area · Diarrhea · Rectal bleeding, which may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia · Weight loss · Fever may occur · A greater risk of developing colorectal cancer · Children with Crohn's may suffer delayed development and stunted growth

Treatment · There is no cure for IBD, thus the focus is on controlling the inflammation. · Medication – inflammation is controlled through powerful drugs such as corticosteroids. ·
Surgery – to remove inflamed or damaged portions of the intestines Nutrition Supplementation - The doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, especially for children · whose growth has been slowed. Special high-calorie liquid formulas are sometimes used for this purpose. A small number of patients may need periods of feeding by vein. This can help patients who need extra nutrition temporarily, those whose intestines need to rest, or those whose intestines cannot absorb enough nutrition from food.

Continued Research Researchers continue to look for more effective treatments. Examples of investigational treatments include · Anti-TNF - Research has shown that cells affected by Crohn's disease contain a cytokine, a protein produced by the immune system, called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). TNF may be responsible for the inflammation of Crohn's disease. Anti-TNF is a substance that finds TNF in the bloodstream, binds to it, and removes it before it can reach the intestines and cause inflammation. In studies, anti-TNF seems particularly helpful in closing fistulas. · Interleukin 10 - Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that suppresses inflammation. Researchers are now studying the effectiveness of synthetic IL-10 in treating Crohn's disease. ·

Antibiotics - Antibiotics are now used to treat the bacterial infections that often accompany Crohn's disease, but some research suggests that they might also be useful as a primary treatment for active Crohn's disease. · Budesonide - Researchers recently identified a new corticosteroid called budesonide that appears to be as effective as other corticosteroids but causes fewer side effects. · Methotrexate and cyclosporine - These are immunosuppressive drugs that may be useful in treating Crohn's disease. One potential benefit of methotrexate and cyclosporine is that they appear to work faster than traditional immunosuppressive drugs. · Zinc - Free radicals--molecules produced during fat metabolism, stress, and infection, among other things--may contribute to inflammation in Crohn's disease. Free radicals sometimes cause cell damage when they interact with other molecules in the body. The mineral zinc removes free radicals from the bloodstream. Studies are under way to determine whether zinc supplementation might reduce inflammation.

Participation in Research If you would like to participate in research done on families who suffer from Crohn’s Disease, please contact the groups listed below:
The University of Chicago Drs. Judy Cho, Steven Hanauer & Barbara Kirschner Chicago, Illinois Telephone: 773-702-2282

Johns Hopkins University and Hospital Baltimore, Maryland Drs. Steven Brant & Theodore M. Bayless Toll Free: 888-279-4194 In addition to multiple affected families,

Dr. Brant (Johns Hopkins) is particularly interested in Jewish families and in Jewish patients whose parents both are willing to participate.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Dr. Richard Duerr Toll Free: 800-457-2015 North Shore University Hospital, New York Drs. Jack Silver & Seymour Katz Manhasset, New York Telephone: 516-562-1113

Cedar-Sinai Hospital Drs. Yang & Jerome Rotter Los Angeles, California Telephone310-855-6453 Incidence in People of Jewish Descent Although environmental factors clearly contribute, these is strong evidence from studies of twins and affected families that Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), especially Crohn's disease, has a genetic basis.

Research has shown evidence of a genetic predisposition to a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IDB) among Jewish individuals of Eastern European descent. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is two-to-eight times more common in Ashkenazi Jews. Genetic factors inherited from the mother may play an important role in predisposing these individuals to Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease occurs in all ethnic groups and races. However, its incidence is highest in Caucasians and Jewish people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi Jews.) The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America estimates that over 2 million Americans suffer from some form of inflammatory equal incidence of IBD in males and females.

Crohn’s Disease is more common in the pediatric practice than Ulcerative colitis. It peaks in the second or third decade of life. Cases of Crohn's in infants and young children occur less frequently. Approximately 25% of all new cases in the population are less than 20 years of age. There is an increased prevalence of Crohn's disease among first-degree relatives, however, no specific habitability pattern has been recognized. Resources and More

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. National Headquarters 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016-8804 Telephone: 212-685-3440 Toll Free: 800-932-2423 Fax: 212-779-4098 Email:info@ccfa.org

Pediatric Crohn's & Colitis Association, Inc. P.O. Box 188 Newton, MA 02468 Telephone: (617) 489-5854 Website:http://pcca.hypermart.net Email:questions@pcca.hypermart.net

Reach Out for Youth with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc. 15 Chemung Place Jericho, NY 11753 Telephone: 516-822-8010

United Ostomy Association, Inc. 19772 MacArthur Blvd., #200 Irvine, CA 92612-2405 Telephone: 949-660-8624 Toll Free: 800-826-0826 Fax: 949-660-9262 Website: Crohn's disease Email:uoa@deltanet.com

The Israel Foundation for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis P.O. Box 5231 Herzlia Israel Fax: 09-9567628