A hospital-based study of clinical and genetic features of Crohn’s disease

Background/PurposeThe aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the current incidence of Crohn’s disease (CD) in Taiwan and examine its clinical/genetic characteristics because there has been a trend toward increased diagnosis in the Asia-Pacific area. The genetic background seen in CD cases in Taiwan seems to be different from that in Western countries.MethodsBy reviewing the database in the National Taiwan University Hospital, CD patients were identified by clinical, endoscopic, and imaging findings. The clinical characteristics were recorded and analyzed. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of patients after obtaining informed consent. Polymerase chain reaction was performed with specific primers followed by direct sequencing to determine the single-nucleotide polymorphisms ATG16L1, CCR6, IL12B, IL23R, LRRK2, TNFSF2, and TNFSF15 CD-associated genes.ResultsClinical data from 110 CD patients were examined from 1988 to 2008, with a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years. There was a marked increase in new CD diagnosis, especially after 2004. Among the 110 patients, 71 men and 39 women, the age at diagnosis was 30.5 ± 17.8 years (mean ± standard deviation). Stenosis occurred in 33.6% (37 of 110) and 40.9% (45 of 110) of patients who underwent surgery. The mortality rate was 2.7%, all because of sepsis. Genetic analysis of 39 patients showed that ATG16L1 and TNFSF15 were associated with susceptibility to CD in Taiwan.ConclusionRecently, the incidence of CD diagnosis in Taiwan has markedly increased. ATG16L1 and TNFSF15 are associated with CD in Taiwan.