CLINICAL UNIFORMITY OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE AT PRESENTATION ANDDURING THE FIRST YEAR OF DISEASE IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF EUROPE

Objective: To compare the methods used for diagnosis and the clinical features of non-specific inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the north and south of Europe. Design: A prospective study over 2 years in 1991 -3 at eight centres in the north and 12 in the south of Europe, using the same criteria for disease definition and same protocol for recordi ng data. Setting: Specialist gastroenterological centres with good dia gnostic facilities at which every effort was made to ascertain all new cases of IBD seen in other departments and primary care in a defined geographical area of known population. Participants: A total of 2201 p atients newly diagnosed as suffering from IBD, 1397 with ulcerative co litis (UC), 706 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 116 with indeterminate c olitis (IND). Results: Diagnostic methods used were similar in north a nd south, a biopsy or resection specimen was available for examination in 94 and 95% of cases of UC and 92 and 87% of CD in north and south, respectively. The type, clinical presentation, site and extent of dis ease were similar in north and south. Treatment followed a common patt ern and mortality from IBD was low in the first year after diagnosis. In both areas, age of onset of UC tended to be later than CD. Conclusi on: The standard of diagnosis and clinical features of IBD are similar in specialist centres throughout Europe so providing a valid basis fo r this aspect of collaborative epidemiological or other studies.