PERINATAL AND CHILDHOOD RISK-FACTORS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE -A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objective: To determine whether exposure to a measles epidemic in uter o or in infancy is a risk factor for the development of Crohn's diseas e, and to determine whether such an association can be found in indivi duals with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a condition in which early infection with measles is known to be of aetiological impo rtance. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to 16875 members of t wo national inflammatory bower disease patient support groups. A contr ol group was composed of friends or neighbours. Birth data were compar ed with the dates of measles epidemics and six possible periods of sus ceptibility were examined. Birth data from a national register of pati ents with SSPE were analysed similarly. Previously identified risk fac tors were also examined. Results: The answers from 2522 members and 23 79 controls were analysed. We found no evidence of an association betw een the development of Crohn's disease and exposure to a measles epide mic. The birth dates of both groups were distributed normally througho ut the year. No other early risk factor for the development of inflamm atory bowel disease was detected. Exposure to a measles epidemic befor e the age of 1 year did not emerge as a risk factor for SSPE. Conclusi on: These data contradict reports from a recent study in central Swede n, but relatively early exposure to measles in childhood may still be a risk factor for the development of Crohn's disease.