title: Resistance index in mural arteries of thickened bowel wall: predictive value for Crohn disease activity assessment in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define reliable Doppler parameters in mural arteries of affected bowel loops for quantitative assessment of Crohn disease (CD) activity in pediatric population and compare Doppler parameters with Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (PCDAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four pediatric patients (7 with inactive, 27 with active disease of different severity; 13 male and 21 female; mean age 13; range 7-18) with CD were prospectively evaluated by Doppler ultrasound (DUS) of affected bowel segments. Using semiquantitative color and power Doppler assessment of vascularization of thickened bowel wall and mesentery, patients were divided in four grades. Spectral measurements (peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI)) of mural arteries were compared with PCDAI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in distribution of semiquantitative color values between inactive and active group. PSV and EDV values showed no significant difference between inactive and active group, while mean RI was significantly higher in the inactive group. RI was also significantly negatively correlated with PCDAI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensity of color and power Doppler signals and RI measurement of mural arteries in thickened bowel wall is linked to CD activity and therefore might be of use in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Kišpatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sjekavica
authors.forename: Vinka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbarić-Babić
authors.forename: Vice
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Šunjara
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kralik
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Senečić-Čala
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dujšin
authors.forename: Ranka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stern-Padovan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001167:Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance