[Familial prevalence in chronic intestinal inflammatory disease. Differences among groups of patients with and without a familial history].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of familial occurrence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to evaluate the differences among groups of patients with and without familial history.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Complete information about sex, age of onset of inflammatory bowel disease, initial location, extracolonic manifestations and perianal disease (in Crohn's disease) was obtained from 187 patients, 99 with Crohn's disease, and 88 with ulcerative colitis.

RESULTS

In 9 patients (9%) with Crohn's disease and 11 (12.5%) with ulcerative colitis, at least one first-degree relative also had inflammatory bowel disease. Three relatives of patients with Crohn's disease had ulcerative colitis and no relative of patients with ulcerative colitis had Crohn's disease. As compared with the group of patients with ulcerative colitis and no familial history, patients with familial history had more frequently distal location and extra-colonic manifestations. No differences were observed among patients with Crohn's disease and familial or non familial history.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in relatives of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is increased. In ulcerative colitis, it is possible to segregate two different groups according to familial history.