Crohn's Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Crohn's Disease - Research Paper Example Ulcerative colitis only involves the colon and affects only the superficial layers of its inner lining (mucosa) in a uniform distribution, starting from the anus. Conversely, Crohns disease may appear at any part of the digestive tract—from the mouth down to the anus, but most commonly at the lower part of the small intestine (ileum), involving perhaps all layers of the intestine, with normal healthy bowel between sections of diseased bowel. (National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 1) Although the exact root of Crohns disease is still a mystery, the condition is associated with a problem in the reaction of the bodys immune system called an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system is unable to distinguish between normal and foreign bodies. (Longstreth) According to Dr. Schoenfeld and Dr. Wu, the cells and proteins composing the immune system, normally defend the body against foreign invaders, such as harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. by being launched, causing inflammation—an important defense mechanism of the system, within the tissues where activation occurs, and triggered only in the presence of harmful invaders; furthermore, continued and abnormal activation of the immune system in the absence of the said foreign bodies results to chronic inflammation and ulceration. Whether this abnormality in the immune system response is a cause or a consequence of Crohns disease is yet to be determined by scientists, but research shows that a number of fact ors—genetic inheritance, the immune system itself, and the environment, have to with the aforementioned inflammation in the digestive tract. (NDDIC 2) NDDIC (2) has affirmed that it was found out that people with Crohns disease have high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein produced by the immune system.