RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Montreal classification defines L4 Crohn's disease (CD) as any disease location proximal to the terminal ileum, which anatomically includes L4-esophagogastroduodenal (EGD), L4-jejunal, and L4-proximal ileal involvement. L4-jejunal disease was established to be associated with poor prognosis. However, the outcome of patients with L4-proximal ileal disease or L4-EGD remains to be clarified. Our study aimed to investigate whether the outcome differs among CD patients with L4-EGD, L4-jejunal, and L4-proximal ileal disease. METHODS: In our retrospective cohort study, 483 patients with confirmed CD were included. The primary outcome was intestinal surgery. Demographic features and outcomes were compared among L4-EGD, L4-jejunal, and L4-proximal ileal disease. RESULTS: Thirty-nine (8.1%) patients had isolated L4 disease, whereas 146 patients had L4 as well as concomitant L1, L2, or L3 disease. During a median follow up of 5.8 years, L4 patients were more likely to have intestinal surgeries compared to non-L4 patients (31% versus 16%, p < 0.001). The percentage of L4-jejunal patients who underwent surgery was higher than that of L4-proximal ileal (66% versus 28%, p < 0.001), and both of these subtypes of L4 were at higher risk for intestinal resection compared to L4-EGD patients (66% and 28% versus 9%, respectively, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). On multi-variable analysis, L4-jejunal (HR 3.08; 95% CI 1.30-7.31) and L4-proximal ileal disease (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.07-3.15) were independent predictors for intestinal resection. CONCLUSIONS: L4 disease had worse prognosis compared to non-L4 disease. Within L4 disease, phenotype of L4-jejunal and L4-proximal ileal disease indicated higher risk for intestinal surgery. It might be justified to further characterize the L4 phenotype of the Montreal classification into three specific subgroups including L4-EGD, L4-jejunal, and L4-proximal ileal disease, similar to the Paris classification of pediatric patients.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of anemia among patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in Chinese population and identify the possible risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 441 patients with CD enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University between January 2003 and May 2012. The prevalence, severity, type of anemia in these patients was assessed when diagnosis was confirmed. A multivariate logistic regression including 122 patients was performed to screen risk factors of anemia. RESULT: The prevalence of anemia was 64.4% (284/441) with 69.0% (196/284) mild anemia, 28.9% (82/284) moderate anemia and 2.1% (6/284) severe anemia. The most common morphological classification was hypochromic microcytic anemia (43.7%, 124/284). Multivariate logistic regression showed the predictive factors for anemia were higher levels of modified Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) (OR = 1.007, 95% CI 1.002-1.013), platelet count (OR = 1.007, 95% CI 1.001-1.012), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR = 1.024, 95% CI 1.000-1.048), penetrating behavior (OR = 16.952, 95% CI 2.626-108.626), structuring behavior (OR = 6.717, 95% CI 1.583-28.507), older age at diagnosis (OR = 1.065, 95% CI 1.012-1.121),and lower body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.769, 95% CI 0.633-0.935). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a common complication in patients with CD among Chinese population. Activity of the underlying disease, older age at diagnosis, penetrating or structuring disease behavior and low BMI are the risk factors.
