Techniques of disease activity assessment in Crohn's disease

Lisa Poritz, Walter Koltun

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Crohn's disease is a chronically relapsing condition that has no single diagnostic test. Presently there is no simple way to assess quantitatively the severity of disease, nor a method by which to predict recurrence or assess response to therapy. The Crohn's disease Activity Index is the most commonly used clinical assessment tool, although it is heavily reliant on subjective symptoms and clinical findings of illness. Numerous serum assays have a variable correlation with clinical disease features, whereas radiologic and endoscopic investigations are uncomfortable, expensive, and probably overinterpret clinically significant disease. Bowel permeability, nuclear white cell scanning, and other studies that are based on the measurement of the pathophysiologic consequences of intestinal inflammation hold promise for being able to assess clinically relevant disease in a way that could influence therapeutic decision-making. The goal of a rapid, easy test that could quantitatively assess disease severity and predict recurrence has yet to be attained.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16-21
Number of pages6
JournalSeminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery
Volume12
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2001

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

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