title: An in-depth study of Crohn's disease in two French families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two French families were investigated. In the first a husband, wife, and 4 children had Crohn's disease; in the second 7 of 11 children had the disease. There was no history of Crohn's disease in antecedent generations and no linkage to HLA haplotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods included family interviews; review of medical records, radiographs, and pathology slides; serology; selective stool culture; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for fecal viral detection; and immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both families multiple cases occurred among siblings in 7-13-month periods. There appeared to be a 4-8-year recurrence of new disease in both families. Radiographs showed a remarkable similarity in the pattern of disease, confined to distal ileum and cecum, in the members of family 1. Examination for pathology showed granulomas in all 8 patients for whom tissues were available. Acid-fast organisms or Campylobacter-like organisms were not found in tissue sections, and immunocytochemistry was negative for mycobacteria and Yersinia. Stool cultures were negative for mycobacteria, Yersinia, and Mycoplasma. Torovirus and coronavirus antigens were not found in stool. Serology was negative for antibodies to Brucella, Yersinia, influenza, and three enteropathogenic viruses of animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The circumstances and data suggest that an infectious microorganism is responsible for these clusterings of Crohn's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Van Kruiningen
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Colombel
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Cartun
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Whitlock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kangro
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoogkamp-Korstanje
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecomte-Houcke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devred
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial