Amit A et al. – This study investigated if outcomes in perianal Crohn’s disease (pCD) are associated with more severe outcomes as found in adults. The authors concluded distinct phenotypic features are observed in pediatric patients with pCD with fistulizing disease and they are predisposed to a greater inflammatory burden.

Methods

• A total of 234 children were included in this prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study.
• All patients had a comprehensive clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic evaluation at enrollment and 98 children had repeat evaluation at 18 months.

Results

• Of the included patients, 24% had perianal findings whereas 9% had fistulizing perianal disease.
• Children with pCD demonstrated reduced weight and height, higher weighted pediatric Crohn's disease activity index, lower serum albumin, higher magnetic resonance enterography global inflammatory score, more rectal and jejunal involvement, and higher prevalence of granulomas.