pl. n. drugs containing 5-aminosalicylic acid, used to treat ulcerative colitis (and to maintain patients in remission from it) and Crohn’s disease affecting the colon. They include *sulfasalazine, *olsalazine, and mesalazine.
a condition in which segments of the gastrointestinal tract become inflamed, thickened, ulcerated, and scarred. It can affect any part of the tract from mouth to anus; common areas affected are the small bowel and colon. It commonly affects the terminal ileum and may mimic acute *appendicitis. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhoea, tiredness, and loss of weight. Longstanding poorly controlled Crohn’s disease may predispose to *malabsorption, strictures, and intestinal obstruction. *Fistulae around the anus, between adjacent loops of intestine, or from intestine to skin, bladder, etc., may complicate Crohn’s disease. The cause is unknown, but various environmental and genetic factors are thought to be involved. Treatment includes aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant drugs, monoclonal antibodies, antibiotics, dietary modification, or (in many cases) surgical correction or removal of the affected part of the intestine. [B. B. Crohn (1884–1983), US physician]... crohn’s disease
n. (pl. enemata or enemas) a quantity of fluid infused into the rectum through a tube passed into the anus. An evacuant enema (soap or olive oil) is used to remove faeces. A therapeutic enema is used to insert drugs into the rectum, commonly corticosteroids or aminosalicylates in the treatment of *proctocolitis. See also barium enema; small-bowel enema.... enema
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