title: A family study of asymptomatic small bowel Crohn's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Discrepancies between severity of lesions and symptoms may be observed in Crohn's disease. We prospectively assessed whether Crohn's disease may be diagnosed among asymptomatic relatives of patients, using Small Bowel Contrast Ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of asymptomatic Crohn's disease relatives was defined ultrasonographically as: bowel wall thickness >3mm, bowel dilation/stricture, lumen diameter >2.5 cm. Diagnosis was confirmed by ileocolonoscopy. Subjects were also screened for the Leu3020insC mutation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consent was given by 35 asymptomatic first-degree relatives of 18 Crohn's disease patients. Ultrasonography indicated increased bowel wall thickness (5mm) compatible with ileal Crohn's disease in 1 relative (2.8%), a 42 year-old male. Ileocolonoscopy, histology, and radiology confirmed the diagnosis of stricturing ileal Crohn's disease. Gallbladder stones were detected in 7/35 (20%) relatives and Leu3020insC mutation in 3/35 (8.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small Bowel Contrast Ultrasonography may be a useful tool to diagnose asymptomatic small bowel Crohn's disease among first-degree relatives of patients.
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: biancone@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biancone
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petruzziello
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capanna
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zorzi
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onali
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Condino
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciccacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borgiani
authors.affiliation: GI Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003287:Contrast Media; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein
keywords: Asymptomatic CD; Crohn's disease (CD); Family study; Small Intestine Contrast Ultrasonography (SICUS)