deCODE Complete
Analyzes risk factors for more than fifty common diseases and several traits, including all of those for which deCODEhealth offers individual disease tests. deCODE Complete focuses on medical conditions that can either be better prevented through altered lifestyle or that have better treatment outcomes if detected early. It is the most comprehensive genetic scan available for evaluating risk of common diseases. It is not generally reimbursable.
Diseases and conditions covered by the deCODE Complete Scan:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, ABO Blood Types, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Clopidogrel Response, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Induced Myopathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism, Warfarin Metabolism.
Crohn's Disease
The true causes of Crohn’s disease are unknown but genetic factors are known to play a significant role.
Although there is currently no medical cure, a number of medications have proven effective in helping to control Crohn’s disease.
A chronic disease of the digestive system
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the body’s immune system overreacts, causing inflammation of the intestine. Crohn’s disease can associate with other health issues, such as liver problems, arthritis, and skin and eye problems.
Mostly affects the lower part of the small intestine
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly it affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon). All layers of the intestine may be involved and between patches of diseased bowel there can be normal healthy bowel.
Also referred to as an inflammatory bowel disease
Along with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), these diseases are referred to as Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In rare cases, patients have been diagnosed with both CD and UC, a condition called Crohn’s Colitis.
People with CD tend to have abnormalities of the immune system
While the exact chain of events that lead to Crohn’s disease is unknown, it is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The abnormal immune response and inflammation of the intestine lead to bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. The symptoms of CD disease vary in severity and onset, they may start gradually or suddenly.
Is most common in Europe and North America and runs in families
The risk of developing CD in one’s lifetime is 0.5% with an estimate of 400,000 to 600,000 people in North America developing CD each year. Crohn’s disease is most commonly observed in Europe and North America and the number of cases has increased over the last several decades.
Genetics play a significant role
Genetic factors are known to play a significant role in the development of Crohn’s disease. Several genetic variants have been identified that increase the risk for the disease. The number of variants included in the deCODEme Genetic Scan for each ethnic group are listed in the table below. These variants are used to provide our customers with a personalized interpretation of their genetic risk for developing Crohn’s disease. See what your genetic test results could look like
| Number of Variants Measured | |
|---|---|
| European ancestry | 29 |
At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities is not available. This information will be added as soon as it becomes available and we are assured of its quality.
Are you at risk for Crohn’s disease?
While the true causes of Crohn’s disease (CD) are unknown, it seems that the immune system may be provoked by many factors, including respiratory infections or physical stress.
- Age: The prevalence of the disease is highest during the second and third decades of life, but CD can occur in people over 70 years and in childhood, although it is not common in children younger than 15 years.
- Ethnicity: Individuals of European decent are at greater risk of developing CD than other ethnic/racial groups.
- Smoking: Smoking adds to the risk for CD. Former smokers are also at greater risk than nonsmokers.
- Genetic Factors: Several genetic factors increase the risk for developing CD and having a family member with CD increases the risk of developing the disease. If a person has a relative with the disease, his or her risk is about 10 times greater than that of the general population. If the relative is a brother or sister, the risk is 30 times greater.
Changes in diet and lifestyle may help control symptoms
Preventive measures for Crohn’s disease have not been well defined. No specific diet has been shown to improve or worsen bowel inflammation in CD. However, eating a healthy amount of calories, vitamins, and protein is important to avoid malnutrition and weight loss. Foods that worsen diarrhea should be avoided. Each person may have specific foods that seem to worsen or improve symptoms.
The goal of medical treatment is to reduce the inflammation
Currently, there is no medical cure for Crohn’s disease. However, a number of medications have proven effective in helping to control the disease. These include anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, immunomodulators and antibiotics.
Biologic therapy is now approved to induce remission in CD patients who have not responded adequately to conventional therapy and also as a long term therapy with or without corticosteroids to maintain remission. Biologic therapy is based on infusion of a monoclonal antibody (infliximab) that blocks the immune system’s production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a mediator that strongly enhances inflammation.
There is an increased risk of colon cancer associated with Crohn’s disease, in particular if the disease manifests in the colon. CD patients therefore undergo colonoscopy for routine surveillance of the colon and thus colon cancer is usually detected earlier than among the general population.
More information
You can find out more information about Crohn’s disease by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:
- The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America
- MedlinePlus Article on Crohn’s Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Patients – American College of Gastroenterology
This content was last reviewed on February 15, 2012.