Osteopathic primary care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a review

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease are relatively common inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that have unknown causes. A combination of abnormalities in genetics, the immune system, and the microbiome of the gut may cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The majority of patients with IBD are in their late teens or early twenties. Most present to their primary care physician for a diagnosis. Although gastroenterologists and surgeons do most of the endoscopy and management of IBD, these patients require a great deal of health maintenance that many never receive. Osteopathic primary care physicians can play a pivotal role in the care of patients with IBD by understanding what areas of the body are affected by the disease and what screening and monitoring are needed to keep patients healthy with the highest quality of life possible.