A prospective study of the course of Crohn's disease.

To better define the course of Crohn's disease, certain clinical, laboratory, and radiological features were studied prospectively in a representative group of 25 patients at intervals of up to 77 months. Eleven variables of potential use in assessing the course were analyzed for clinician preference, and the statistical relationship of one variable, the Crohn's disease activity index, to the other 10 was determined. Modest improvement was documented in three clinical variables, as well as in anemia, serum albumin, intestinal protein loss, and radiological extent of disease. Variables most frequently ranked high as reflections of the course of Crohn's disease were hematocrit and extent of disease, followed by body weight, stools per day, B12 absorption, serum albumin, and intestinal protein loss. The highest intervariable correlation was between improvement in protein loss and decrease in radiological extent (r = 0.75).