People with extensive small intestine disease may also have malabsorption of carbohydrates or lipids, which can further exacerbate weight loss. Extraintestinal
Crohns disease can affect many organ systems beyond the gastrointestinal tract. Visual
Inflammation of the interior portion of the eye, known as uveitis, can cause blurred vision and eye pain, especially when exposed to light (photophobia). Uveitis can lead to loss of vision if untreated.Inflammation may also involve the white part of the eye (sclera) or the overlying connective tissue (episclera), which causes conditions called scleritis and episcleritis, respectively.Other very rare ophthalmological manifestations include: conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and retinal vascular disease.Gallbladder and Liver
Crohns disease that affects the ileum may result in an increased risk of gallstones. This is due to a decrease in bile acid resorption in the ileum, and the bile gets excreted in the stool. As a result, the cholesterol/bile ratio increases in the gallbladder, resulting in an increased risk for gallstones. Although the association is greater in the context of ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease may also be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a type of inflammation of the bile ducts.Liver involvement of Crohns disease can include cirrhosis and steatosis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are relatively common and can slowly progress to end-stage liver disease.
It is usually thought to be due to an inability of the ileum to reabsorb bile acids after resection of the terminal ileum and was the first type of bile acid malabsorption recognized. Mental health
Crohns may result in anxiety or mood disorders, especially in young people who may have stunted growth or embarrassment from fecal incontinence. Counselling as well as antidepressant or anxiolytic medication may help some people manage.As of 2017 there is a small amount of research looking at mindfulness-based therapies, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Alternative medicine
It is common for people with Crohns disease to try complementary or alternative therapy. These include diets, probiotics, fish oil, and other herbal and nutritional supplements. Acupuncture is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease in China, and is being used more frequently in Western society. At this time, evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of acupuncture. A 2006 survey in Germany found that about half of people with IBD used some form of alternative medicine, with the most common being homeopathy, and a study in France found that about 30% used alternative medicine. Homeopathic preparations are not proven with this or any other condition, with large-scale studies finding them to be no more effective than a placebo. There are contradicting studies regarding the effect of medical cannabis on inflammatory bowel disease, and its effects on management are uncertain. Prognosis
Crohns disease is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure. It is characterised by periods of improvement followed by episodes when symptoms flare up.