[Smoking and digestive tract: a complex relationship. Part 1: Inflammatory bowel disease and cigarette smoking]. / Tabagisme et système digestif: une relation complexe. Partie 1: Maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l'intestin et consommation de tabac.

ABSTRACT

Little is known about the effects of smoking on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However the co-occurrence of smoking and IBD often happens in ambulatory care. Smokers have a doubled risk of developing a Crohn's disease with a more active disease course. After quitting, a decrease in risk can be observed after only one year. An inverse relationship is found between smoking and ulcerative colitis. Smoking seems protective for the development of the disease and its course is less active among smokers. Smoking cessation transitorily increases the risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Nevertheless, continuing smoking cannot be justified among those patients given the risks of long-term extra-digestive effects. It is thus important to counsel all smokers with an IBD to quit smoking.