Increased fatigability of external anal sphincter in inflammatory bowel disease: significance in fecal urgency and incontinence.

Background And Aims: Fatigability of external anal sphincter (EAS) has not been studied in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We evaluated EAS fatigability in IBD patients with and without fecal incontinence (FI) and urgency, and correlated fatigability with demographic and clinical factors, and EAS endosonography.

Methods: Fifty-eight consecutive IBD cases and 14 healthy volunteers completed Bristol stool form and a FI severity scale.

An unusual case of Crohn's disease with unresponsive pleural exudates. Is Crohn's disease finally a systemic immunological disorder?

Crohn's disease has been infrequently associated with various respiratory manifestations. Reports of pleural effusions in Crohn's disease are even sparser, but differential diagnosis is rich, with causes either associated with the disease or being independent. Processes directly or indirectly related to therapy, entities overlapping with Crohn's disease in pathogenesis and common causes of effusions should all be considered, under the guidance of laboratory testing and imaging.