[Clinical and metabolic studies in the acute stage of Crohn's disease with total parenteral feeding and elementary diet].

The acute phase of Crohn's disease in a 14 year old female was effectively treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and an elemental diet (ED). Acute abdominal symptoms subsided at once. With TPN there was a daily nitrogen retention of 3,2-5.6 grams. With ED nitrogen retention decreased presumably because of the reduced nitrogen content of the oral diet. During the 7 weeks of treatment body weight increased 7 kgrams. Observed skin lesions were caused by zinc deficiency.