This site is no longer maintained and is presented for archive purposes only

http://blog.crohn.ie



Title: Crohn's disease in the Chinese population. An experience from Hong Kong.
Title Abreviation: Dis Colon Rectum Date of Pub: 1994 Dec
Author: Sung JJ; Hsu RK; Chan FK; Liew CT; Lau JW; Li AK;
Issue/Part/Supplement: 12 Volume Issue: 37 Pagination: 1307-9
MESH Headings: Adolescence; Adult; Child; Crohn Disease (CO/*EH); Female; Hong Kong (EP); Human; Male; Mongoloid Race (*); Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; -AA-;
Journal Title Code: EAB Publication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE
Date of Entry: 950118NEntry Month: 9503
Country: UNITED STATES Index Priority: 1
Language: Eng Unique Identifier: 95087482
Unique Identifier: 95087482 ISSN: 0012-3706
Abstract: PURPOSE: Crohn's disease was extremely rare among Chinese. We reviewed all cases diagnosed as having Crohn's disease during a five-year period. METHODS: A diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made only if all of the following criteria were fulfilled: 1) clinical symptom(s) and sign(s) compatible with chronic inflammatory bowel disease; 2) exclusion of intestinal infection by repeated stool cultures; 3) macroscopic features of small and/or large intestinal inflammation with skip lesion, stricture, and fistula formation; 4) histologic features of Crohn's disease, i.e., focal lymphoid aggregate, focal cryptitis, and granuloma formation; 5) clinical response to conventional therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. RESULTS: Fifteen ethnic Chinese patients were diagnosed as having Crohn's disease in this period. All patients had colitis, whereas small intestine inflammation was documented in only 47 percent of patients. Extraintestinal manifestations were uncommon except for arthropathy: ankylosing spondylitis (2), sacroiliitis (1), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (1), and colitic arthritis (1). The majority of our patients responded to medical therapy. Surgery was undertaken in 33 percent of patients. CONCLUSION: Although there is a general increased incidence of Crohn's disease in the Western world, we too are beginning to see more cases in the Far East. Nevertheless, gastrointestinal infection with bacteria and/or parasites should still be carefully excluded in these countries.
Abstract By: Author
Address: Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.