Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1988 Jul;29(7):990–996. doi: 10.1136/gut.29.7.990

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in an unselected population of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. A study of heritability and the influence of smoking.

C Tysk 1, E Lindberg 1, G Järnerot 1, B Flodérus-Myrhed 1
PMCID: PMC1433769  PMID: 3396969

Abstract

By running the Swedish twin registry containing about 25,000 pairs of twins of the same sex together with the central national diagnosis register of hospital inpatients, 80 twin pairs suffering from inflammatory bowel disease were found. In the ulcerative colitis group one of 16 monozygotic pairs was concordant for the disease, but all the other 20 pairs (dizygotic or unknown zygosity) were discordant. In the Crohn's disease group eight of 18 monozygotic pairs and one of 26 dizygotic pairs were concordant. The proband concordance rate among monozygotic twins was 6.3% for ulcerative colitis and 58.3% for Crohn's disease. The calculated heritability of liability based on monozygotic pairs was 0.53 and 1.0 respectively. Thus heredity as an aetiological factor is stronger in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis. Monozygotic twins with Crohn's disease were more likely to be smokers than monozygotic twins with ulcerative colitis. Smoking did not explain the discordance of twin pairs with either ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. The combination of identical heredity and similar smoking habit is not sufficient to cause disease.

Full text

PDF
990

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ANFANGER H. Regional ileitis in children. J Mt Sinai Hosp N Y. 1955 Sep-Oct;22(3):187–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Allen G., Hrubec Z. Twin concordance. A more general model. Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma) 1979;28(1):3–13. doi: 10.1017/s0001566000009284. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Atwell J. D., Duthie H. L., Goligher J. C. The outcome of Crohn's disease. Br J Surg. 1965 Dec;52(12):966–972. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800521214. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Berg N. O., Dencker H. Crohn's disease in monozygotic twins. Acta Chir Scand. 1972;138(6):633–635. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Binder V., Both H., Hansen P. K., Hendriksen C., Kreiner S., Torp-Pedersen K. Incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in the County of Copenhagen, 1962 to 1978. Gastroenterology. 1982 Sep;83(3):563–568. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Binder V., Weeke E., Olsen J. H., Anthonisen P., Riis P. A genetic study of ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1966;1(1):49–56. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bitter J. Crohnova choroba u jednovajecných dvojcat. Cesk Gastroenterol Vyz. 1977 Apr;31(3):199–202. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. CEDERLOF R., FRIBERG L., JONSSON E., KAIJ L. Studies on similarity diagnosis in twins with the aid of mailed questionnaires. Acta Genet Stat Med. 1961;11:338–362. doi: 10.1159/000151168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. CRISMER R., DREZE C., DODINVAL P. IL'EITE DE CROHN CHEZ DES JUMEAUX UNIVITELLINS. Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma) 1963 Oct;12:358–368. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Calkins B. M., Mendeloff A. I. Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease. Epidemiol Rev. 1986;8:60–91. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a036296. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dassel P. M. A familial pattern in inflammatory disease of the bowel (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Dis Colon Rectum. 1977 Nov-Dec;20(8):669–671. doi: 10.1007/BF02586686. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ehrenpreis T., Gierup J., Lagercrantz R. Chronic regional enterocolitis (mb Crohn) in children and adolescents. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1971 Mar;60(2):209–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1971.tb06644.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. FINCH S. M., HESS J. H. Ulcerative colitis in children. Am J Psychiatry. 1962 Mar;118:819–826. doi: 10.1176/ajp.118.9.819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. FREYSZ H., HAEMMERLI A., KARTAGENER M. Ileitis regionalis bei einem weiblichen Zwillingspaar. Gastroenterologia. 1958;89(2):75–82. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Goldstein F., Abraham A. A., Abramson J., Thornton J. J., 3rd Ileojejunitis in a pair of identical twins. Gastroenterology. 1976 Oct;71(4):670–674. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. González C., Alonso de la Miar P., Baniela N., Fernández de Diego J. I., Rivela M., Gómez J. L. Enfermedad de Crohn en gemelas univitelinas. An Esp Pediatr. 1983 Oct;19(4):309–314. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gregg J. A., Baggenstoss A. H. Discordance for ulcerative colitis in identical twins concordant for cholestatic liver disease. Report of 2 cases. Am J Dig Dis. 1970 Jul;15(7):667–671. doi: 10.1007/BF02236029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hislop I. G., Grant A. K. Genetic tendency in Crohn's disease. Gut. 1969 Dec;10(12):994–995. doi: 10.1136/gut.10.12.994. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kendler K. S. Overview: a current perspective on twin studies of schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 1983 Nov;140(11):1413–1425. doi: 10.1176/ajp.140.11.1413. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Klein G. L., Ament M. E., Sparkes R. S. Monozygotic twins with Crohn's disease: a case report. Gastroenterology. 1980 Nov;79(5 Pt 1):931–933. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lindberg E., Tysk C., Andersson K., Järnerot G. Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease. A case control study. Gut. 1988 Mar;29(3):352–357. doi: 10.1136/gut.29.3.352. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mayberry J. F., Dew M. J., Morris J. S. Monozygotic twins with ulcerative colitis. Postgrad Med J. 1982 Feb;58(676):112–114. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.58.676.112. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Mayberry J. F., Rhodes J., Newcombe R. G. Familial prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in relatives of patients with Crohn's disease. Br Med J. 1980 Jan 12;280(6207):84–84. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6207.84. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Monsén U., Broström O., Nordenvall B., Sörstad J., Hellers G. Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease among relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1987 Mar;22(2):214–218. doi: 10.3109/00365528708991882. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Morichau-Beauchant M., Matuchansky C., Dofing J. L., Yver L., Morichau-Beauchant J. Entérite régionale chez des jumeaux homozygotes. Revue de la littérature à propos du 11(e) cas rapporté. Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 1977 Oct;1(10):783–788. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. NIEDERLE B. [Regional ileitis in univitelline twins]. Arch Mal Appar Dig Mal Nutr. 1961 Nov;50:1245–1246. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Powell J. R. Concordance of arthritis and iritis in identical twins with ulcerative colitis. J Natl Med Assoc. 1974 Jul;66(4):305–passimass. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Purrmann J., Bertrams J., Borchard F., Miller B., Cleveland S., Stolze T., Strohmeyer G. Monozygotic triplets with Crohn's disease of the colon. Gastroenterology. 1986 Dec;91(6):1553–1559. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(86)90215-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Qazi Q. H., Piken E., Fierst S. Discordant occurrence of ulcerative colitis in identical twins. Gastroenterology. 1973 Jul;65(1):134–136. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Quigley E. M., LaRusso N. F., Ludwig J., MacSween R. N., Birnie G. G., Watkinson G. Familial occurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 1983 Nov;85(5):1160–1165. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Rodrigo Sáez L., Pérez Alvarez R., Sánchez Lombraña J. L., Orduña A., Valerdiz S., Arribas Castrillo J. M. Enfermedad de Crohn en gemelos monocigóticos: descripción de un nuevo caso y revisión de la literatura. Rev Esp Enferm Apar Dig. 1985 Dec;68(6):525–530. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Ruëff F., Grabiger A., Bohmert H., Hamperl D., Hoffman K. Zur Klinik des Morbus Crohn. Erfahrungsbericht der Chirurgischen Universitätsklinik München 1954-1974. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr. 1975 Jun 6;117(23):1009–1016. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. SHERLOCK P., BELL B. M., STEINBERG H., ALMY T. P. FAMILIAL OCCURRENCE OF REGIONAL ENTERITIS AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS. Gastroenterology. 1963 Sep;45:413–420. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Sanford G. E. Genetic implications in ulcerative colitis. Am Surg. 1971 Aug;37(8):512–517. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Sheehan R. G., Necheles T. F., Lindeman R. J., Meyer H. J., Patterson J. F. Regional enteritis and granulomatous colitis associated with erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. N Engl J Med. 1967 Nov 23;277(21):1124–1126. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196711232772105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Sirlin S. M., Benkov K. J., Kazlow P., Dolgin S., Dische M. R., LeLeiko N. S. Identical twins concordant for Crohn's disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1986 Jun;8(3 Pt 1):290–294. doi: 10.1097/00004836-198606000-00019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Sleight D. R., Galpin J. E., Condon R. E. Ulcerative colitis in female monozygotic twins and a female sibling. Gastroenterology. 1971 Oct;61(4):507–512. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Smith C. Concordance in twins: methods and interpretation. Am J Hum Genet. 1974 Jul;26(4):454–466. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Smith C. Heritability of liability and concordance in monozygous twins. Ann Hum Genet. 1970 Jul;34(1):85–91. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1970.tb00223.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Somerville K. W., Logan R. F., Edmond M., Langman M. J. Smoking and Crohn's disease. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Oct 13;289(6450):954–956. doi: 10.1136/bmj.289.6450.954. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Strik W. O., Strik W. Familiäres Auftreten der Enteritis regionalis Crohn bei zweieiigen Zwillingen und 2 weiteren Geschwistern. Munch Med Wochenschr. 1972 Oct 27;114(43):1852–1856. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Stöcker W., Otte M., Ulrich S., Normann D., Stöcker K., Jantschek G. Autoantikörper gegen exokrines Pankreas und gegen intestinale Becherzellen in der Diagnostik des Morbus Crohn und der Colitis ulcerosa. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1984 Dec 21;109(51-52):1963–1969. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1069485. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. THAYER W. R., Jr, SPIRO H. M. Protein abnormalities in ulcerative colitis patients and their families. Gastroenterology. 1963 Apr;44:444–447. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Thomson J. P. Perianal Paget's disease. Proc R Soc Med. 1971 May;64(5):570–570. doi: 10.1177/003591577106400543. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. WEBB L. R., Jr The occurrence of chronic ulcerative colitis in twin males. Gastroenterology. 1950 Jul;15(3):523–524. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Weterman I. T., Peña A. S. Familial incidence of Crohn's disease in The Netherlands and a review of the literature. Gastroenterology. 1984 Mar;86(3):449–452. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES