Activity of Crohn's disease assessed by measurement of superior mesentericartery flow with Doppler ultrasound

Purpose: To investigate the value of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) Doppl er flow measurements as a marker for disease activity in patients with Croh n's disease. Materials and Methods: Duplex Doppler sonographic measurements of SMA blood flow volume were obtained in 90 patients with suspected or known Crohn's di sease in three separate studies. The first study was a pilot study to ascer tain the value of Doppler measurements in patients with proven active or in active disease and to check our performance. In two following studies prosp ectively a correlation was sought between the independent assessment of Dop pler flow measurements and our standard of reference based on clinical hist ory, physical examination, laboratory values, endoscopy, surgery and/or fol low-up and prospectively a correlation was sought between Doppler studies a nd the results of enteroclysis. Results: In all but two patients (study II) adequate measurements of SMA fl ow were obtained. In the active patient groups the Doppler SMA flow was sig nificantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the inactive patient groups and the control groups. Conclusion: These studies show that SMA Doppler flow measurements can be us ed as a parameter to assess disease activity in patients with Crohn's disea se. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.