Biological Abnormalities Associated with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder with complex and multifactorial pathogenesis and presentations. This retrospective study aims to analyze the biological abnormalities observed at the initial diagnosis of Crohn’s disease in a cohort of 231 patients. Methods: We performed a five-year retrospective study at the Hepato-Gastroenterology Department of University Hospital Hassan II in Fez, Morocco, involving 231 patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. A standardized form was used to extract data from medical charts and the Hosix electronic medical system. With an emphasis on hematologic, inflammatory, and nutritional parameters, as well as superinfections at presentation, demographic, clinical, and paraclinical variables were gathered. Results: The cohort’s mean age was 37.8 ± 12.2 years, and the majority of participants (66.7%) were female. Seventy-seven percent of patients had a chronic disease onset when they first arrived, and the average diagnostic delay was 16.7 months. 1) Inflammatory markers: Of the 196 patients tested, 91.8% had elevated fecal calprotectin (74.8% had >250 µg/g), and 83% had elevated C-reactive protein. 2) Anemia: Found in 61 percent of patients (n = 139), primarily microcytic hypochromic; 20 percent had iron deficiency, 44.6 percent had inflammation, and 35.4 percent had mixed. 3) Nutritional deficiencies were prevalent and included hypoalbuminemia (59%), vitamin D deficiency (90%), and hypocalcemia (39%), as well as hypomagnesemia (17%). 4) 24.8 percent of patients experienced superinfections, primarily from Entamoeba histolytica (14 percent) and Clostridium difficile (9.2 percent). Conclusion: These results highlight how Crohn’s disease affects more than just the gastrointestinal tract. To improve patient outcomes and optimize management strategies, routine evaluation of inflammatory markers, hematological parameters, and nutritional status are essential.