Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

when other risk factors exist. People who have
Crohn’s disease are particularly susceptible to kid-
ney stones (NEPHROLITHIASIS) and gallstones
(cholelithiasis). Abdominal fistulas (abnormal
openings between structures), anal fissures, and
RECTAL PROLAPSEare also common complications
with Crohn’s disease. During disease flareups, some
people who have IBD develop SKINconditions.

Risk Factors and Preventive Measures
The most significant risk factor for IBD is family
history, and researchers have identified several

genes that correspond to the Crohn’s disease com-

ponent of IBD. One in four who has IBD has a

first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who

also has IBD. There are few other indications for

why and how IBD develops, though most doctors

believe a combination of factors convene to estab-

lish the disease process.

Neither the development nor outbreaks of IBD

are preventable. Dietary precautions such as eating

small meals and avoiding foods that irritate the gas-

trointestinal system (such as CAFFEINE, ALCOHOL, and

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 63

COMMON IBD MEDICATIONS

Drug Actions
5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) local anti-inflammatory
balsalazide (Colazal) oral products coated to dissolve in the SMALL INTESTINEor COLON
Canasa suppository
mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa)
olsalazine (Dipentum)
Rowasa ENEMA
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)

anticholinergics slow intestinal motility to reduce DIARRHEA
atropine systemic action
dicyclomine (Bentyl)

antidiarrheals slow intestinal motility to reduce diarrhea
loperamide (Imodium) gastrointestinal action
diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

antibiotics treat gastrointestinal INFECTIONand abscesses
metronidazole (Flagyl)
ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

corticosteroids systemic anti-inflammatory
budesonide (Encort-EC) available for intravenous, oral, or rectal administration
hydrocortisone (Hydrocort)
hydrocortisone enema (Cortenema)
prednisone
prednisolone

immunosuppressives decrease immune activity
azathioprine (Imuran)
methotrexate (Amethopterin)
6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol)

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES(MABS) blocks action of TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR(TNFS), which reduces
infliximab (Remicade) INFLAMMATION