Is IBD an autoimmune disease? While it has similarities with autoimmune diseases, IBD is a little different.

IBD falls under the umbrella of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Generally speaking, IMIDs are conditions in which chronic inflammation happens due to an atypical immune response.

In addition to IBD, autoimmune disease is another type of IMID. Asthma and other allergic conditions can also be classified as IMIDs.

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an inappropriate immune response to healthy organs and tissues in the body. For example, many people with RA have autoantibodies that attack healthy joint tissue. IBD is a little different.

IBD is generally accepted to be caused by an atypical immune response to environmental triggers in a genetically susceptible person. This leads to chronic inflammation in the GI tract.

Types of IBD

There are two different types of IBD. These are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, but is more common in the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine. As it progresses, it can cause scarring, narrowing, and fistula formation in the affected areas.

Ulcerative colitis causes ulcers to form on the inside of your large intestine, which commonly leads to bloody diarrhea. Some of the potential complications of ulcerative colitis include anemia, bowel perforation, and colorectal cancer.

As mentioned earlier, the exact cause of IBD is unclear. It appears to be a very complex combination of the immune response, genetics, and environmental factors.

We’ve already talked about the immune system, so let’s cover genetics and environmental factors now.

Genetics

Your individual genetics can predispose you to developing IBD. One 2019 research review notes that first-degree relatives of people with IBD can have up to a five times greater risk of developing IBD themselves.

This means that if a close family member like a parent or sibling has IBD, you may be at an increased risk of developing it yourself.

Researchers have looked at the types of genes associated with IBD. Many that have been identified have to do with processes that may be important for the development of chronic inflammation in the GI tract. These include genes related to:

  • immune system regulation
  • maintenance of the GI tract lining
  • oxidative stress
  • antimicrobial defenses

Environmental factors

A 2019 study found that the prevalence of IBD worldwide increased greatly between 1990 and 2017. The highest increases were in high income countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

This suggests certain environmental risk factors may trigger or at least contribute to IBD in people that are genetically susceptible. Some examples of environmental factors that are associated with IBD risk are:

Both IBD and autoimmune disease are IMIDs. As such, many of the ways that they cause disease may overlap. If this is the case, could having IBD put you at an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease?

While additional studies are needed, some research indicates that having IBD increases the risk of autoimmune disease. Let’s take a look at some examples.

A 2016 study found that, compared with people without IBD, those with IBD had a higher incidence of autoimmune disease. Severe IBD was associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune disease.

A 2017 study had similar findings. Researchers found that 20 different IMIDs were more common in people with IBD, including:

The goal of IBD treatment is to lower inflammation in your GI tract, which will keep you in remission and prevent the disease from progressing. Medications are often an important part of IBD treatment.

Several types of medications may be used to treat IBD, including:

Additionally, other interventions can help manage IBD, including:

  • bowel rest for severe Crohn’s disease
  • surgery to remove parts of your GI tract that have been severely affected by IBD
  • dietary adjustments like:
    • avoiding foods that trigger symptoms
    • eating smaller meals more frequently
    • using nutritional supplements if you’re not receiving enough nutrients

IBD is an immune-mediated disease that causes persistent inflammation in the GI tract. Without treatment, it can continue to damage the GI tract and may lead to potentially serious complications.

The exact cause of IBD is still unknown. Generally speaking, it appears to be caused by an atypical immune response to an environmental trigger in genetically predisposed people.

The current treatments for IBD focus on reducing GI tract inflammation, which can lead to a remission of symptoms. Following your treatment plan is vital for maintaining remission and preventing progression of IBD.