Enfoque actual del diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la enfermedad de CROHN

Abstract

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammation which can occur at any point in the digestive tract, unlike ulcerative colitis, which presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever due to inflammation in the distal part of the small intestine and other extraintestinal symptoms and signs such as arthritis. Objective: The objective of this paper is to review the most up-to-date literature on the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's disease in the last 4 years, using the PubMEd database, to create a document that is useful for students and residents of medicine. Development: the diagnosis of Crohn's disease requires a multidisciplinary study, including a directed physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging findings compatible with the disease, these being the basis of diagnosis. The treatment aims to control intestinal inflammation in the laboratory, allow the patient to enjoy quality of life, and promote adequate nutrition in infants. Conclusions: Endoscopy continues to be the most widely used method for diagnosing CD because it is affordable with acceptable sensitivity and specificity and because it allows visualization of the intestinal mucosa, allowing the use of simultaneous biopsy. Treatment in mild CD should be stepped in an "ascending" manner, starting with anti-inflammatory agents such as 5-aminosalicylic acid, antibiotic therapy, and nutritional therapy. In moderate to severe CD, initially intervene with a combination of azathioprine or mercaptopurine, and later steroids if there is no remission.