[Three case of IBD or exacerbation of IBD after ovulation induction]

ABSTRACT

Ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn's disease [CD], collectively referred to as inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], present with different histology and cytokine profiles. While the precise mechanisms underlying the development of IBD are not known, sufficient data have been collected to suggest that it results from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors. An inappropriate mucosal immune response to normal intestinal constituents is a key feature, leading to an imbalance in local pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Neutrophil and monocyte influx occurs with subsequent secretion of oxygen radicals and enzymes, leading to tissue damage. Here we report three patients with sever symptom of IBD after ovarian stimulation. Cytokine profile after ovarian stimulation may contribute to the altered intestinal permeability due to increase in systemic inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil or macrophage activation. In our hypothesis ovulation induction can induce inflammation in intestinal mucosa or exacerbate previous IBD by different cytokines