Activity of Crohn's terminal ileitis: rationalization of diagnostic procedures

Crohn's terminal ileitis is part of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, connected with relapses and late complications as fistulization or extraluminal infections. Diagnostic procedures in evaluation of inflammatory activity include endoscopic examinations with bioptic confirmation of active disease, scintigraphy with autologous leukocytes and radiographic exams. The sequence of investigations is not predicted, and aim of our study is to optimize the diagnostic algorhytm in evaluation of activity of Crohn's terminal ileitis. Modification of jejunoileography that will allow investigation of small and the beginning of large bowel is proposed and the results will be compared to scintigraphy with autologous leukocytes and endoscopic evaluation. The results will lead to optimization of diagnostic algorhytm and therefore allow early treatment of disease, preventing late complications as fistulizations and abscesses and morbidity connected with this disease.