Ethnic Differences in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract

have investigated all first and second degree immigrants from our IBD patient cohort. In Antwerp – Belgium there is an important Moroccan immigrant population since the 1960s. Phenotype differences were assessed between Moroccan and Caucasian immigrants. We looked at age at diagnosis, sex, disease location and behavior (Montreal classification), extraintestinal manifestations, need for anti-TNFα treatment and surgery. Our single-center results suggest that first and second degree Moroccan immigrants with IBD suffer predominantly from Crohn’s disease with a more severe phenotype characterized by penetrating disease leading to higher rates of CD-related surgery and need for anti-TNFα treatment. In addition, extraintestinal manifestations tend to be more prevalent in the Moroccan immigrant population. Possible explanations are discussed.