BACKGROUND The number of eosinophils is increased in the mucosae of the digestive and the respiratory tracts in Crohn disease, even clinically quiescent. The mechanisms underlying this panmucosal eosinophilia are unknown. METHODS The response of blood eosinophils to various chemotactic agents was assessed in 15 patients with clinically quiescent Crohn disease. The results were compared with 1...

CROHN DISEASE Pathology Crohn disease is characterized by segmental, transmural, granulomatous inflammatory changes that can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the perianal area. Disease of the terminal ileum is present in 80% of patients with Crohn disease, and 50% of patients have ileocolitis. Approximately 33% and 20% of patients demonstrate only ileal and colo...

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anaemia is a frequent complication of Crohn disease. Treatment with ferrous iron (Fe2-) compounds is often unsatisfactory and is associated with gastrointestinal side effects. Theoretically, oral iron supplementation may even be harmful, because iron may reinforce intestinal inflammation by catalysing production of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the effect o...

OBJECTIVES Crohn disease is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation in the absence of a recognized etiology. Nutritional therapy in the form of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has an established role within pediatric Crohn disease. Following exclusive enteral nutrition's success, many dietary therapies focusing on the elimination of specific complex carbohydrates have been anecdotall...

We present a 13.5 year old boy with chronic intussusception that was misdiagnosed as Crohn disease and received treatment for the wrong diagnosis. Because his condition didn’t improve, more work-ups were performed and the radiologic work-ups revealed the diagnosis of a missed intussusception with fistula.We suggest that prolonged intussusception should be considered in the list of differential ...

BACKGROUND Arg702Trp, Gly908Arg, and Leu1007fsinsC variants of the NOD2 gene (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2; alias, CARD15) influence the risk of Crohn disease. METHODS We conducted a systematic review to examine whether Arg702Trp, Gly908Arg, and Leu1007fsinsC are equally important risk factors for Crohn disease. In addition, we used studies for which combined informa...

Perianal disease is a well-recognized complication of Crohn disease and is often present when diagnosis is made (1,2). The reported incidence of perianal Crohn disease in the pediatric population varies between 13% and 62% (3–6). Anorectal stricture is a less common manifestation, and rarely are symptoms noted unless complicated by perianal sepsis or fistulae (7,8). Genital involvement is rare ...

BACKGROUND Few studies exist to guide the treatment approach to intra-abdominal abscesses in Crohn disease, which can include antimicrobials alone or in conjunction with percutaneous drainage or surgery. The primary aim of this study is to review outcomes from different treatment approaches to intra-abdominal abscess in Crohn disease. METHODS Medical records were reviewed for patients admitte...

P ostsurgical recurrence of Crohn disease is a very frequent event, and none of the drugs used for the purpose has really shown a clear-cut efficacy. Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti–TNF), is very effective in the treatment of active Crohn disease, but its benefit in preventing postoperative recurrence is still unknown. Yet, its impact, both medical and economi...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Children with Crohn disease are at increased risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Early development of osteopenia can increase the lifetime risk for fractures and may be amenable to early intervention. The gold standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk is dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), but this involves some radiation and specialized programs for...