Development and validation of an ultrasonographic activity index of Crohn's disease

Objectives We developed and validated an ultrasonographic index of intestin al inflammatory activity for patients with Crohn's disease, Methods Fifty-five patients with Crohn's disease were examined by transabdo minal ultrasonography. The pathological findings were classified into three types (AC) on the basis of wall thickness and wall stratification. To calc ulate the index, we divided the intestine into eight segments, and the scor es for each segment were summed to calculate the index (ultrasonographic ac tivity index of Crohn's disease) as follows: 1 point for type A lesions, [w all thickness (mm) - 21 x 2 for type B lesions, and [wall thickness (mm) - 21 x 4 for type C lesions. Endoscopic or barium contrast findings were also scored in a similar fashion, with the following parametric scores: 10 for cobblestoning, 5 for longitudinal ulcers, 3 for aphthoid ulcers, and 1 for chronic inflammatory changes. Results A strong correlation (r(2) = 0.62, P< 0.01) was found between the u ltrasound index and the endoscopic/ radiological score, while weak correlat ions were found between the endoscopic/radiological score and the Crohn's d isease activity index or biological indices of inflammation. Conclusions Our results show that the ultrasonographic activity index of Cr ohn's disease can be of value in the ongoing assessment and treatment of pa tients, fur I Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:1007-1012 (C) 1999 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins.