Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract, most commonly the end of the small intestine and the colon.

Inflammation extends through the full thickness of the bowel wall and appears in patches, which distinguishes it from ulcerative colitis. Symptoms include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, blood in the stool and, over time, complications such as strictures, fistulas and abscesses. It typically begins in young adulthood, follows a course of flares and remissions, and involves genetic susceptibility, immune dysregulation and environmental factors such as smoking.

Gastroenterologists diagnose it with colonoscopy and biopsies, imaging of the small bowel, blood tests and stool markers of inflammation. Established treatment includes anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and biologic medications, nutritional support and sometimes surgery. Small studies of cannabidiol in Crohn's disease have not shown meaningful control of the underlying inflammation.