ENDOSCOPIC AND BIOPTIC FINDINGS IN THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT IN PATIENTS WITH CROHNS-DISEASE

A prospective study was carried out on 41 patients diagnosed as having Crohn's disease (CD) to evaluate the degree of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement. In 23 patients (56 %), endoscopic alterations were found most frequently affecting the antrum and duodenum. Lesions enco untered were: Aphthoid erosions, ulcers, thickening of folds, nodules, erythema and stenosis. Granulomas were found in biopsies in 19.5 % of the patients: They were more frequent in those demonstrating endoscop ic alterations (26 %) than in those with normal endoscopic findings (1 1 %). Clinical evolution was favorable with conventional treatment for CD and ranitidine, although the endoscopic lesions did not totally di sappear in any cases. We conclude that upper gastrointestinal endoscop y with biopsies is useful in evaluating the extension of disease and c an be of diagnostic value in cases of indeterminate colitis.