Usefulness of Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of patients with active Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of the vascular changes in the splanchnic circulation and bowel wall described in patients with active Crohn's disease (ACD).


METHODS
We analyzed prospectively with Doppler ultrasound the mean velocity of portal flow, the resistive index (RI) of the superior mesentery artery (SMA) and we looked for vessels within the bowel wall.


METHODS
50 patients with ACD and 30 normal individuals.


RESULTS
In comparison with normal individuals, patients with ACD showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in the mean velocity of the portal flow and in the RI of the SMA. In all patients with ACD, vessels could be seen within the bowel wall using the color Doppler ultrasound.


CONCLUSIONS
Doppler ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive method to evaluate the vascular changes which develop in the splanchnic circulation and bowel wall of patients with ACD.
Silván Delgado
M
M
Radiodiagnostic Service, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain.
Juanco Pedregal
C
C
Parra Blanco
J A
JA
Barreda González
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color