title: Rectal biopsy as a prognostic guide in Crohn's colitis.
abstract: In a retrospective study, 64 rectal biopsies from 27 patients with Crohn's disease limited to the large bowel have been reviewed using a semiquantitative grading of histological abnormality. The subsequent clinical course was assessed independently, and patients were included in one of four categories: (1) remaining asymptomatic; (2) showing continued moderate inflammatory activity; (3) requiring colectomy; and (4) dying as a direct result of colonic disease. Biopsies from group (4) showed a greater degree of histological abnormality than those in the other three groups. This difference was statistically significant for first biopsies ((4)-(1) p less than 0-05; (4)-(2) p less than 0-05). In any one patient the histological appearances were relatively constant from one biopsy to the next. The presence of either fissuring or ulceration suggested a poor prognosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000473:pathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology