Usefulness of Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of patients with active Crohn's disease
Silván Delgado, M.; Juanco Pedregal, C.; Parra Blanco, J.A.; Barreda González, M.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 89(9): 677-684
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 9421554 Document Number: 477210
To assess the usefulness of Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of the vascular changes in the splanchnic circulation and bowel wall described in patients with active Crohn's disease (ACD). We analyzed prospectively with Doppler ultrasound the mean velocity of portal flow, the resistive index (RI) of the superior mesentery artery (SMA) and we looked for vessels within the bowel wall. 50 patients with ACD and 30 normal individuals. In comparison with normal individuals, patients with ACD showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in the mean velocity of the portal flow and in the RI of the SMA. In all patients with ACD, vessels could be seen within the bowel wall using the color Doppler ultrasound. Doppler ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive method to evaluate the vascular changes which develop in the splanchnic circulation and bowel wall of patients with ACD.