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Beta Blockers & Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a debilitating and hard to treat inflammatory bowel disease. Beta blockers are a class of drugs used to manage cardiac activity (e.g., heart rhythm) and hypertension (blood pressure). Although beta blockers are generally not an important element in the treatment of Crohn's disease, they are considered effective in preventing an occasional side effect, the hemorrhaging of variceal arteries. Since this can cause death, the potential protective effect of beta blockers is important in cases where variceal arteries appear.

  1. Crohn's Disease

    • Crohn's disease, named after the physician who first described it, is a form of bowel disease featuring severe inflammation and ulceration of the intestines. The symptoms are similar to ulcerative colitis, another inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The specific cause is unknown, although some experts believe it may be linked to the presence of certain bacteria. Some think it may also be caused by an overactive immune system. The initial symptoms of the condition include intense abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss.

    Parts Affected

    • The main distinction between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is distribution in the digestive tract. While the latter condition affects the colon only, the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the digestive tract from the mouth to the stomach, and from the intestines to the anus, although it is mostly scene in the intestines. It also affects deeper layers of tissue than ulcerative colitis.

    Effects of Crohn's Disease

    • Pits appear on the surface of bowel (or other digestive tract) tissue, which gradually become deeper and ulcerate. In severe cases, the ulceration can perforate the tissue altogether, creating a hole and spreading to other parts of the body. It is also possible for the ulcer to break the skin, leading to painful discharge of waste matter through open sores, typically on the abdomen. The ulceration associated with Crohn's disease can also block the intestines, leading to stomach cramps and vomiting. It can also cause internal bleeding. Variceal bleeding occurs when severely dilated arteries in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive system are breached. This dilation is commonly seen in cirrhosis of the liver, but has also been found in Crohn's patients. Variceal hemorrhage can be a life-threatening condition.

    Treatment of Crohn's Disease

    • There is no straightforward cure for Crohn's disease, which can recur repeatedly in affected individuals. Symptoms can, however, be relieved through treatment. Many different approaches to treating symptoms of Crohn's disease through medication are available. These include prescription of corticosteroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, mesalamine or other drugs intended to reduce inflammation.

    Treatment of Variceal Bleeding

    • While beta blockers are not part of general therapy for Crohn's disease, reports suggest that they are effective in preventing variceal bleeding. Beta blockers reduce hypertension (blood pressure) in the portal vein, an important vein in the digestive system, and thus pressure on the dilated arteries. The World Gastroenterology Organization recommends the use of beta blockers to prevent bleeding in patients at risk of variceal hemorrhage.

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