An overview of lipid abnormalities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder which encompassestwo forms of intestinal inflammation: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It is reported thatinflammation, carotid intima media thickness, homocysteine and insulin resistance, parametersthat are all associated with atherosclerosis, are increased in IBD. On the contrary, it seems thatIBD patients exhibit low levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol. Thisreview highlights the lipid profiles that occur in IBD patients and summarizes data of studiesusing regimens that may affect lipid metabolism in these patients.

Keywords inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides

Ann Gastroenterol 2011; 24 (3): 181-187