PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

In inflammatory bowel disease, which type of process is it likely attributed to?

1. Infectious

2. Genetic

3. Autoimmune

4. Idiopathic

The correct answer is: Autoimmune

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which primarily includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is largely attributed to autoimmune processes. In IBD, the immune system mistakenly attacks the gastrointestinal tract, leading to inflammation and a host of gastrointestinal symptoms. The autoimmune nature of IBD is characterized by an inappropriate immune response to intestinal microbiota and/or dietary antigens, causing chronic inflammation. Genetic predisposition can contribute to the risk of developing IBD, but the manifestation of the disease involves an abnormal immune response, which is typical of autoimmune conditions. This misguided immune response is what drives the ongoing inflammation associated with IBD, resulting in damage to the intestinal lining and leading to the clinical features of the disease. Additionally, while the term "idiopathic" implies an unknown cause, in the case of IBD, there is a recognizable pattern of immune dysregulation that differentiates it from purely idiopathic disorders. Thus, the autoimmune classification best encapsulates the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms involved in inflammatory bowel disease.