当前有关克罗恩病病理生理学的理论表明,感染性、免疫性、环境、饮食和心理因素在遗传和免疫系统易感人群中起到一定作用。[13]Peeters M, Nevens H, Baert F, et al. Familial aggregation in Crohn's disease: increased age-adjusted risk and concordance in clinical characteristics. Gastroenterology. 1996 Sep;111(3):597-603.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8780562?tool=bestpractice.com[17]Joossens M, Simoens M, Vermeire S, et al. Contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease in a large family with multiple cases. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007 May;13(5):580-4.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ibd.20086/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206668?tool=bestpractice.com[18]Lerebours E, Gower-Rousseau C, Merle V, et al. Stressful life events as a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease onset: a population-based case-control study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jan;102(1):122-31.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17100973?tool=bestpractice.com[21]Halfvarson J, Jess T, Magnuson A, et al. Environmental factors in inflammatory bowel disease: a co-twin control study of a Swedish-Danish twin population. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2006 Oct;12(10):925-33.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/01.mib.0000228998.29466.ac/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17012962?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Danese S, Fiocchi C. Etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Aug 14;12(30):4807-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16937461?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Sartor RB. Mechanisms of disease: pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Jul;3(7):390-407.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16819502?tool=bestpractice.com
初始病变表现为肠隐窝周围出现炎症性浸润,随后发展为浅表黏膜溃疡。炎症逐渐进展为累及肠道黏膜的更深层次,并形成非干酪性肉芽肿。这些肉芽肿会累及所有层的肠壁、肠系膜和局部淋巴结。发现这些肉芽肿可高度提示诊断为克罗恩病,但是未发现这些肉芽肿并不能排除克罗恩病的可能性。[24]Heresbach D, Alexandre JL, Branger B, et al. Frequency and significance of granulomas in a cohort of incident cases of Crohn's disease. Gut. 2005 Feb;54(2):215-22.http://gut.bmj.com/content/54/2/215.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15647184?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Pierik M, De Hertogh G, Vermeire S, et al. Epithelioid granulomas, pattern recognition receptors, and phenotypes of Crohn's disease. Gut. 2005 Feb;54(2):223-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15647186?tool=bestpractice.com
早期内窥镜检查结果包括黏膜炎症所引起的充血和水肿。这会进展为横向和纵向分布的散在的深度溃疡,形如鹅卵石。这些病变被健康组织所分隔,故被称为跳跃性病变。[4]Baumgart DC, Sandborn WJ. Inflammatory bowel disease: clinical aspects and established and evolving therapies. Lancet. 2007 May 12;369(9573):1641-57.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499606?tool=bestpractice.com
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 克罗恩回肠炎的内窥镜检查视图由 Wissam Bleibel、Bishal Mainali、Chandrashekhar Thukral 和 Mark A. Peppercorn 博士(本专题著作的前作者)合著 [Citation ends].
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 正常末端回肠的内窥镜检查视图摘自 Charlotte Ford 博士(North Middlesex Hospital Trust, London, UK)的个人收藏 [Citation ends].
急性透壁性炎症会导致痉挛相关的肠道黏膜水肿,从而引发肠梗阻。慢性透壁性炎症会导致肠壁增厚、瘢痕形成、肠腔缩窄和狭窄形成。这可能会引发成瘘、窦道形成、穿孔和/或脓肿形成。慢性炎症还会损害肠黏膜,导致吸收能力下降。这会引发营养不良、脱水以及维生素缺乏和营养不足。末端回肠累及会阻碍胆汁酸吸收,进而导致脂肪泻、脂溶性维生素缺乏和胆石形成。粪便内脂肪过多与钙密切相关,从而导致草酸吸收增多,并诱发草酸肾结石形成。[1]Podolsky DK. Inflammatory bowel disease. N Engl J Med. 2002 Aug 8;347(6):417-29.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12167685?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Baumgart DC, Sandborn WJ. Inflammatory bowel disease: clinical aspects and established and evolving therapies. Lancet. 2007 May 12;369(9573):1641-57.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499606?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Danese S, Fiocchi C. Etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Aug 14;12(30):4807-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16937461?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Lapidus A, Akerlund JE, Einarsson C. Gallbladder bile composition in patients with Crohn's disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Jan 7;12(1):70-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16440420?tool=bestpractice.com[27]Lapidus A, Einarsson C. Bile composition in patients with ileal resection due to Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 1998 May;4(2):89-94.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9589295?tool=bestpractice.com[28]Obialo CI, Clayman RV, Matts JP, et al. Pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis post-partial ileal bypass surgery: case-control study. The POSCH Group. Kidney Int. 1991 Jun;39(6):1249-54.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1895677?tool=bestpractice.com
除与胃肠道相关的临床表现之外,克罗恩病可能会累及多种肠外器官和系统,包括皮肤、关节、口腔、眼睛、肝脏和胆管。一些此类疾病具有自身免疫机制。[4]Baumgart DC, Sandborn WJ. Inflammatory bowel disease: clinical aspects and established and evolving therapies. Lancet. 2007 May 12;369(9573):1641-57.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499606?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Barreiro-de Acosta M, Domínguez-Muñoz JE, Nuñez-Pardo de Vera MC, et al. Relationship between clinical features of Crohn's disease and the risk of developing extraintestinal manifestations. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jan;19(1):73-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206080?tool=bestpractice.com