Heartburn Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Heartburn, including details on symptoms, causes, prevention, treatment, diet, reflux, drugs.

Heartburn and multiple-site foregut perforations as primary manifestation of Crohn's disease.

Bona D, Incarbone R, Chella B, Vecchi M, Bonavina L

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Policlinico San Donato, Division of General Surgery, Milano, Italy.

SUMMARY: Crohn's disease may affect any segment of the digestive tract, more commonly the distal ileum, colon and/or perianal region. There is an increasing number of reports dealing with foregut Crohn's disease. We present the case of a patient with a history of heartburn and multiple spontaneous perforations of the esophagus, duodenum and jejunum as a primary manifestation of Crohn's disease who required emergency surgical and endoscopic procedures. Early detection of Crohn's disease may decrease the incidence of acute life-threatening complications provided that appropriate medical treatment is administered and a multidisciplinary approach is offered to these patients.

Published 27 July 2005 in Dis Esophagus, 18(3): 199-201.
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