IBD Sensor

Crohn’s Disease Affects the Entire Digestive Tract from Mouth to Anus

Crohn’s disease, named after its discoverer Burill Bernhard Crohn, is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause both chronic and episodic symptoms. Typical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever, fatigue, and weight loss.

Due to an abnormal immune system response, inflammation develops in various areas of the bowel, leading to swelling and narrowing, causing various digestive issues. These inflammations often occur in the colon and small intestine but can also affect the mouth and esophagus in rarer cases. Persistent inflammation damages the intestinal tissue, allowing otherwise harmless bacteria from the gut flora to penetrate surrounding tissue, triggering an even stronger immune response. This can lead to additional symptoms such as joint pain (up to arthritis), eye inflammation, liver disease, and skin changes with nodular, raised redness (often on the front of the shins). Over time, Crohn’s disease can also cause dangerous nutrient deficiencies.

The disease progresses differently for each patient, often in episodes. Periods of complete symptom relief alternate with phases of varying symptoms in severity and duration. Since initial symptoms may be mild digestive issues that later disappear, many cases of Crohn’s disease are only diagnosed years after the first signs appear. During this time, the disease remains untreated, leading to numerous complaints that could be alleviated with the right therapy.

Genetic Predisposition for Crohn’s Disease

Since the exact causes of the disease are not yet fully understood, medical treatment focuses on symptom management. This usually results in a significant improvement in the quality of life for patients.

However, research has shown that, in addition to an unhealthy lifestyle, genetic predisposition plays a key role in the development of Crohn’s disease. About one in 700 Europeans suffers from this inflammatory bowel disease, and approximately half of the affected individuals have certain mutations in the NOD2 gene, which is involved in immune system function. The disease also tends to occur more frequently in two age groups: people aged 16 to 35 and those over 60.

Due to its unclear symptoms, Crohn’s disease is often misdiagnosed. A genetic test can identify the individual risk of developing Crohn’s disease early and enable timely preventive measures with the correct diagnosis.

How Does Our IBD Sensor Work?

With our IBD Sensor, our laboratory analyzes the submitted saliva sample for three variations of the NOD2 gene that can contribute to the development of Crohn’s disease. We also test the genetic profile’s influence on the effectiveness of 21 common medications.

This genetic analysis allows us to determine the likelihood of developing Crohn’s disease and whether specific preventive measures are necessary.

We summarize the analysis results in a written report and, if necessary, recommend additional preventive measures.

In this way, our IBD Sensor can contribute significantly to the early detection of this bowel disease and help alleviate symptoms with an adjusted diet, counteracting an inflamed digestive tract.