[Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and their clinical significance in Crohn's disease].

25 patients with Crohn's disease were followed up with serial serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determinations during hospitalization and at a control investigation eight weeks following discharge. The CEA level was compared with extent, duration and clinical activity of disease, as well as with Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and several acute phase reactants. The distribution of positive CEA levels (greater than 5 ng/ml) was similar in phases of acute inflamation and in remission. CEA levels did not show any significant correlation with CDAI, acute phase reactants, extent of involvement, duration of disease or histological findings. In this study CEA levels did not prove to be helpful indicators of disease activity or of cancer risk in Crohn's disease.