Is appendicitis hereditary? Understanding the genetics

Medical News Today

3 days ago

Is it hereditary?
Other causes
Risk factors
Contacting a doctor
Summary
Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of appendicitis. Genetic variations may affect the risk and severity of appendicitis.
Appendicitis is the medical term for inflammation of the appendix — a small, tube-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. Genetic and environmental factors may contribute to this condition.
Appendicitis symptoms can come on suddenly and may quickly become severe. Without immediate treatment, the condition can be life threatening. Christine La/Stocksy
The researchers suggest certain genetic variations may play a role in determining an individual's appendicitis risk and severity. Scientists refer to these genetic variations as 'single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)' or 'snips.'
According to the article, the snips HLX and CTSB appear to play a causal role in the development of appendicitis. These snips correlate with increased levels of an inflammatory biomarker called C-reactive protein (CRP).
People with appendicitis often have higher levels of CRP in their blood. These findings suggest that certain genetic variations can make the appendix more susceptible to inflammation, increasing the risk of appendicitis.
Similarly, a 2019 article associated appendicitis risk with genetic variation in genes that control cytokine production. Cytokines are proteins that help to control inflammation in the body, and one of their roles is to regulate CRP production.
Overall, these findings suggest that certain variations in the genes that control inflammation can make someone more or less susceptible to appendicitis. However, more research may be necessary to fully understand this relationship.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), other possible causes of appendicitis include : hardened stool or growths that block the opening of the appendix
enlarged tissue in the wall of the appendix due to an infection within the digestive tract or elsewhere in the body
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
However, they note that multiple factors can contribute to appendicitis and the cause is not often clear.
Appendicitis occurs most often in people between the ages of 5 and 45 years.
There is a slightly higher incidence of male appendicitis than female appendicitis. However, it can affect anyone, regardless of their sex, and the difference in prevalence among those of different sexes is not clinically significant.
A 2023 observational study also suggests that the following dietary and lifestyle factors may increase the risk of appendicitis:
However, the study's authors note that more research is necessary.
As the NIDDK explains, appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment. Delaying treatment can cause the appendix to rupture, which can be life threatening.
Around 2% of appendicitis cases progress to rupture around 36 hours from the onset of symptoms. This figure increases by around 5% for each additional 12 hours that pass without treatment.
Anyone with symptoms of appendicitis should see a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately to ease the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.
According to the NIDDK , the most common symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain, which may: come on suddenly
begin near the belly button and spread to the lower-right part of the abdomen
worsen with movement, or with deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing
worsen within a matter of hours
be severe, and feel different to any other type of pain
Other possible symptoms of appendicitis include:
Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of appendicitis. Genetic variations in the genes that help to control inflammation may increase the risk of appendicitis in some cases.
These genetic variants can pass from parents to offspring. As such, having a family history of appendicitis can increase a person's susceptibility to the disease.
Anyone with symptoms of appendicitis should contact a doctor or attend their local accident and emergency department immediately. Without treatment, appendicitis can progress to a ruptured appendix, which can be fatal.
Genetics
GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology