Are activity indices helpful in assessing active intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease?
We have investigated the correlation of 24 h and 48 h faecal Indium-111 excretion with each other and with several clinical activity indices for Crohn's disease (CD): Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), activity index (AI), simple index (SI), Oxford score, and laboratory parameters, such as ESR, serum albumin, orosomucoid, C-reactive protein, alpha-l-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) faecal concentration, and alpha 1-AT clearance in 58 CD patients (37 with small bowel and 21 with colonic disease). A significant correlation was found between 24 and 48 h faecal Indium-111 excretion for small bowel (r = 0.708, p less than 0.0001) and colonic disease (r = 0.994, p less than 0.0001). The median faecal Indium-111 excretion for colonic involvement (4%; 0.15-50% median and range) was significantly (p less than 0.005) higher than that for small bowel disease (0.45%; 0.03-2.9%). No significant correlation was found between faecal Indium-111 excretion and any activity index in the patients with small bowel disease, while in the group of patients with colonic localisation only the AI showed a significant correlation (r = 0.593, p less than 0.02). Faecal Indium-111 excretion was significantly correlated with alpha 1-AT clearance (r = 0.712, p less than 0.0001) and faecal alpha 1-AT concentration (r = 0.750, p less than 0.0001) in small bowel and in colonic localisation (r = 0.530, p less than 0.02 and r = 0.444, p less than 0.05). Serum albumin was significantly correlated only in the group of patients with colonic disease (r = -0.593, p less than 0.05). The present study shows poor agreement between activity indices, serum parameters of activity and faecal Indium-111 excretion. As a good correlation was found with the alpha1-clearance, which reflects losses into the gut, these results may suggest that faecal Indium excretion does not only reflect activity of inflammation, but my relate to the extent of intestinal ulceration.
Crama-Bohbouth
G
G
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Pena
A S
AS
Biemond
I
I
Verspaget
H W
HW
Blok
D
D
Arndt
J W
JW
Weterman
I T
IT
Pauwels
E K
EK
Lamers
C B
CB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D007205:Indium Radioisotopes