local

Last reviewed 11/2020

Possible local complications of Crohn's disease include:

• intestinal obstruction
• haemorrhage
• perforation with abscess
• stricture formation; common
• perianal abscess fistula
• fistulae to the bowel, bladder, vagina
• increased risk of malignancy but less than that of ulcerative colitis

Notes:

• abdominal or pelvic abscesses occur in 10–30% of patients with Crohn's disease (1)
• pyogenic hepatic abscess is a recognized rare late complication of Crohn’s disease that occurs at a higher incidence than the general population
  • hepatic abscesses commonly present as multiple lesions occurring in a younger patient (<40 yrs old) with Crohn’s disease and drainage yields a single organism, typically streptococci (2)

Reference:

1. Lee H et al. Nonsurgical treatment of abdominal or pelvic abscess in consecutive patients with Crohn's disease. Dig Liver Dis. 2006 Sep;38(9):659-64.
2. Cassara JE et al. Hepatic abscess as the initial manifestation of Crohn’s disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2002; 97 (9); Supp.1:170-S171