Inflamatory Bowel

What is Inflamatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases are those for which there is no
discernable aetiological agent. The two most important diseases affecting
the large bowel are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis has remained static at about 26/100,000
population, with the sex incidence being equal and affecting mainly 20-40
year olds with a secondary peak in the 70 year olds. It is always confined
to the large bowel, beginning distally as proctitis and then spreading
proximally to a variable extent. Occasionally, it may be confined to the
rectum.

The inflammation of ulcerative colitis is confined to the mucosa.
Pseudopolyps develop when uninvolved mucosa hypertrophies and areas of
granulation tissue associated with ulcers become covered with epithelium,
forming polypoid masses.

There is a 10-25 fold increased risk of developing cancer in patients with
colitis, beginning 10 years after diagnosis. Approximately 50% of patients
who develop cancer have been discharged back to the care of their GP (mild
colitis) and will not be followed up by the hospital.