title: Distinguishing orofacial granulomatosis from crohn's disease: two separate disease entities?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology sharing histological features with Crohn's disease (CD). This study aimed to 1) define the clinical presentation of OFG, 2) establish differentiating features for those with CD, 3) examine if onset of OFG is predictive of CD, and 4) establish differentiating features for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from medical notes (n = 207) for demographics, clinical features, blood parameters, diagnosis of CD, and treatment's for patients with OFG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven patients (47%) were female. The lips (184/203; 91%) and buccal mucosa (151/203; 74%) were mainly affected. Forty-six (22%) had intestinal CD. Ulcers (24/46; 46% versus 29/159; 15%, P = <0.001) were more common in patients with CD as was a raised C-reactive protein (24/33; 73% versus 60/122; 49%, P = 0.016) and abnormal full blood count (19/41; 46% versus 35/150; 23%). The buccal-sulcus (12/44; 27% versus 20/158; 13%, P = 0.019) was more often affected in those with CD. Half the patients with CD were diagnosed prior to onset of OFG. The remainder were diagnosed after. The incidence of CD is similar for children (16/69; 23%) and adults (29/132; 22%), although oral onset in childhood is more likely to occur prior to diagnosis of CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OFG mainly presents in young adults with lip and buccal involvement. Abnormalities in inflammatory markers, hematology and oral features of ulceration, and buccal-sulcal involvement are factors more commonly associated with CD. Initial presentation of OFG does not necessarily predict development of CD, although this is more likely in childhood.
authors: Nutritional Sciences Division, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Campbell
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Escudier
authors: Pritash
authors: P
authors: Patel
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Nunes
authors: Timothy R
authors: TR
authors: Elliott
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Barnard
authors: Penelope
authors: P
authors: Shirlaw
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Poate
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Cook
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Milligan
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Brostoff
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Mentzer
authors: Miranda C E
authors: MC
authors: Lomer
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Challacombe
authors: Jeremy D
authors: JD
authors: Sanderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D051261:Granulomatosis, Orofacial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein