statistics

I worry about this also as my dad had UC and so did I. I am praying the disease skips a generation in my house.

I'm the first in the family although my dad has had GI issues since his 20s. Nothing every diagnosed other than diverticulosis. So I don't believe his issues are related to mine.

I am not sure how you did your calculating, but unless both parents have IBD, your risk ratio is way too high.

First, genetic risk is much more associated with Crohn's than UC, as there is a higher familial association with Crohn's than UC (according to twin studies).

With one parent with IBD, the lifetime risk for any child is around 10%, at least that is according to what I've read so far from articles on genetic research. The risk is higher with both parents having IBD, 30-50%. But, again, that is a lifetime risk, and does not confer the type or severity.

Most articles do not discuss lifetime risk percentages, but general risk as compared to the general population, so are difficult to interpret (at least they are to me).

Jan

My grandmother had it. I have 2 aunts that have a form of colitis but it is not UC. My father has had issues but never bad enough to go to the doctor. A cousin on the other side of the family has exactly every issue that I have. I have 2 brothers with issues but they refuse to go to the doctor due to money, then 2 nephews and both my sons have issues. I hope to God they do not have this. What a mess... I do hope that percentage is wrong though.

Jan, you would know much better than me! There is so much data on the web all with different estimates...it seemed like 20% chance as an individual with one parent with UC/Crohn's was the median number from all the different articles I read.

oh, and my 33% number was me being a nerd doing binomial expansion as the probability will go up that one of my two kids could inherit based on a 20% chance per kid.

That line of thinking probably would work with standard Mendelian traits, but IBD does not have such linear genetics. They are just inherited predispositions, with other triggers required. Even with identifying the genes responsible, they have not been able to predict IBD.

People don't bat an eye about the very real heart disease risk that is genetic, and it kills you. So, if you think about it, everyone lives with risks of any number of diseases, IBD is just one. Best to just enjoy today and let tomorrow reveal itself. Worrying about it will not change anything. Your kids are great no matter what the future brings.

Jan

If it makes you feel better, I am the only person in my family with UC--and this is going back several generations. My brother had a fistula of unknown etiology, but he's had no other problems and has had several scopes which do not show any form of IBD. My sister has mild IBS.

I recall my former GI once saying that the familial/genetic association with IBD is not concrete or even entirely understood, in that one family member having the disease does not necessarily predispose others. He acknowledged that there is a genetic association, more so with Crohns, but he did say that only about 30% of those diagnosed with IBD also have a family member with it, which means that 70% of cases don't. Clearly the 70% weighs much heavier.

I agree with Jan. It's best not to worry about what could happen. We are ALL at risk, all the time, for something or other, even despite healthy lifestyles and educating ourselves about risk factors. And, unlike some other diseases which can be reduced or prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle, no one has ever proven that IBD can be avoided by changing diet, taking supplements, etc (if only!). So easier to cross bridges when we get to them.

My heridity sucks.
Other than the D'Eller's-Danlos syndrom that is extremely heritary (congenital collagene defficiency including severe healing problems, articulation & vascular fragility etc..) we hit the mother load for colon cancer. 2 uncles, grandparents, cousins etc...pretty much 1/2 the family croaked from it or a related cancer (generalised metastits, pancreatic cancer...)
Most of the male cousins had IBD, polyps etc and most of their fathers had colon cancer...funny how I am the only woman in my family that I know of with it.
I do not want to know what my chances are/were...I figure that for now, I am doing as well if not better than most people think that I deserve...so I will take it and run with it.
But, I do warn family member to get exames, check ups, bloodwork etc.
Better safe than sorry....
Sharon