Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in an Israeli Arab population
Ibrahim Zvidi1, Gerald M Fraser, Yaron Niv
1Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Clalit Health Services, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. zbidieb@windowslive.com
Aims:
To determine the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among the 1.5 million Arab residents in Israel who represent 20% of the total population.
Methods:
Family physicians in all Arab towns and villages were contacted to obtain information on patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Relevant clinical data were retrieved and updated to December 31, 2009.
Results:
Information was obtained from 23/71 municipalities approached (representing 200,000 out of 1.5 million Arabs). There were 64 confirmed cases of Crohn's disease indicating a prevalence rate of 32/100,000. The rate of smoking within this cohort was lower than in the general population (1.5% vs. 40%; P<0.001). There were 44 confirmed cases of ulcerative colitis with a prevalence rate of 22/100,000. The percentage of active smokers in this cohort was 18%. Clinical remission or mild activity was observed in 75% of patients in both cohorts at the time of the survey. Fourteen patients (21%) had undergone surgery for Crohn's disease, whereas none had undergone surgery for ulcerative colitis. Twenty-eight (42%) patients with Crohn's disease and 20 (45%) with ulcerative colitis were on maintenance therapy with 5-aminosalicylic acid. Only 18% with Crohn's disease and 6.8% with ulcerative colitis had received anti-tumor necrosis factor. The most prevalent extra-intestinal manifestations were perianal disease (18%) in Crohn's disease, and arthralgia or arthritis (6.8%) in ulcerative colitis.
Conclusions:
We found a low prevalence rate of inflammatory bowel disease in the Israeli Arab population.
More Related Videos
07:34Induction of Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of CBir1 TCR Transgenic CD4+ T Cells to Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: December 16, 2021
09:44Evaluating Therapeutic Interventions in the SHIP-deficient Mouse Model of Crohn Disease-like Ileitis and Fibrosis
Published on: October 14, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...