Final answer:
Excessive diarrhea in Crohn's disease typically results in an electrolyte imbalance where a blood test would likely reveal a chloride deficit, alongside sodium losses, due to the continual loss of fluids and electrolytes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Excessive diarrhea in Crohn's disease is likely to cause an electrolyte imbalance, specifically a chloride deficit as well as potential losses of sodium which can contribute to an overall imbalance of electrolytes. Activation of adenylate cyclase in intestinal cells can cause an increased secretion of fluids and electrolytes, leading to diarrhea. In patients with Crohn's disease, this can be exacerbated due to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
When someone with Crohn's experiences chronic diarrhea, essential ions are lost from the body. The kidneys may struggle to compensate, leading to an electrolyte imbalance. Since diarrhea can result in the loss of chloride and bicarbonate ions among others, the body's ability to regulate these levels in extracellular fluid is compromised. Therefore, a blood test on such a patient will typically reveal an electrolyte imbalance due to excessive and prolonged loss of digestive fluids, inclusive of important ions like sodium and chloride that are evidently lost through diarrhea and sweating, and are not adequately reabsorbed due to the underlying condition.