August 11, 2008

Crohn’s and Jewish Ancestry

By Kyle

I’ve often wondered (as I’m sure many people with any sickness have) why me? I found this article the other day while doing some online research. I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (my grandparents fled Austria in 1940). I found it really interesting, and strange, how some people from a certain area or of a certain background can be affected by conditions that people are largely unaware of.

Researchers have identified new genetic markers for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in a study they say provides further evidence that people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are more likely to develop the conditions.

Up to 30 percent of people in the United States with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a family history of the condition, and about 25 percent of those families have histories of both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, according to background information in this multi-center American and Canadian study. People of Ashkenazi Jewish (eastern European) descent are at least twice as likely to develop a form of IBD and are more likely to have a family history of IBD.

Crohn’s is most frequently characterized by inflammation of the final section of the small bowel and parts of the colon, while ulcerative colitis involves inflammation of the internal lining of the rectum and colon.

In this study, researchers looked for DNA variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 993 families (244 of whom were Ashkenazi Jews) with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Among those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, the researchers found evidence of genetic markers for familial Crohn’s disease on previously identified areas of chromosomes 1 and 3. They also pinpointed a previously unidentified region of chromosome 13 in both Jewish and non-Jewish families with Crohn’s.
The researchers also identified areas on chromosomes 2 and 19 that may be related to ulcerative colitis in both groups.

The findings were published in the March issue of Genes and Immunity.

Until now, no gene regions implicated in IBD were specific to Ashkenazi Jews, and there was no genetic evidence to explain why they were twice as likely to develop the disorder, said study senor author Dr. Steven R. Brant, a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins.

“This increased risk for some Jewish people makes our study and results especially significant, since this is the first sample size of Jewish families, 244, that was large enough to identify novel gene regions for familial predisposition in this ethnic group,” Brant said in a prepared statement.

Topics: Crohn's Disease, General Nutrition |

One Response to “Crohn’s and Jewish Ancestry”

1. Candace Kinney - October 13th, 2008 at 3:31 am

   
   

   My grandmother had crohn’s before her young death of about 52. My dad is now the same age and is in the hospital for closely related problems. I had an aunt tell me that one of my grandmothers doctors told her that the type of crohn strand she had was commonly found in Jewish decendants. I was happy to run across this article to validate what I was told.
   I worry about my dad and wish I knew more.
   Is this a concern for me or my children?

Comments

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

« The trials and tribulations of PKU… or is it just me? | Home | PKU and the 3 R’s »