Assessment of the role and reliability of sonographic post-prandial flow response in grading Crohn's disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of pre and post prandial Duplex colour Doppler sonographic (DCDS) measurement of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow in the assessment of Crohn's disease activity, and its response to treatment.


METHODS
SMA volume flow rates before and after a food challenge (200 ml of Ensure Plus) were recorded over 60 min in 11 controls, and 25 patients with proven Crohn's disease. Peak flow rates and the time interval to peak flow were recorded. Eleven patients with active disease were monitored longitudinally and their response following the introduction of systemic steroids was assessed.


RESULTS
The time interval from food challenge to peak SMA flow rate was significantly lower in patients with untreated active disease (median 20 min, range 14.5-21.25) compared to inactive patients (median 33 mins, range 28.75-40.5, P = 0.0006). Longitudinal follow-up of active disease demonstrated prolongation of time to peak flow following clinical remission (P = 0.0024)


CONCLUSIONS
This technique is useful in offering an immediate, noninvasive means of assessing disease activity. Further longitudinal follow up data is necessary to determine its utility in assessing response to treatment.
Britton
I
I
Department of Radiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK.
Maguire
C
C
Adams
C
C
Russell
R I
RI
Leen
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color