FREQUENCY OF GLUCOCORTICOID RESISTANCE AND DEPENDENCY IN CROHNS-DISEASE

The outcome of the first steroid treatment course was prospectively st udied in a regional cohort of 196 patients with Crohn's disease diagno sed 1979-1987. The immediate outcome after 30 days, and the prolonged outcome 30 days after treatment had stopped, are described. In all 109 patients treatment was analysed. Complete remission was obtained in 4 8%, partial remission in 32%, and no response in 20% within 30 days of treatment. Among primary responders (complete and partial remission), 55% remained in prolonged response after treatment had finished, whil e 45% relapsed or could not be withdrawn from treatment within one yea r. Localisation of disease, age, sex or clinical symptoms did not sign ificantly correlate with outcome, which can be summarised as prolonged steroid response in 44%, steroid dependency in 36%, and steroid resis tant in 20% of the patients.