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Crohn's disease with respiratory tract involvement
Gut
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Crohn's disease rarely affects the airways. This study describes two patients with Crohn's disease who developed granulomatous bronchial lesions and respiratory symptoms, improving with prednisone treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
- Respiratory manifestations of Crohn's disease are uncommon and typically involve the upper airways or lung parenchyma.
- Granulomatous bronchial involvement has not been previously documented in Crohn's disease.
Observation:
- Two patients with established colonic Crohn's disease presented with significant respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea and voicelessness.
- Endoscopic examination revealed colonic inflammation and whitish granulations in the bronchi.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed non-caseating tuberculoid granulomas in the colonic and bronchial mucosa.
Findings:
- The study identified symptomatic, granulomatous bronchial lesions in two patients with Crohn's disease.
- Bronchial biopsies showed non-caseating granulomas, consistent with Crohn's disease involvement.
- Both patients demonstrated clinical improvement following treatment with oral prednisone.
Implications:
- This report expands the spectrum of extragastrointestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease to include the bronchial tree.
- The findings suggest that Crohn's disease can cause granulomatous inflammation in the bronchi, presenting with respiratory symptoms.
- Early recognition and treatment of bronchial involvement may improve patient outcomes in Crohn's disease.
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