A simple clinical index of Crohn's disease activity can be useful in monitoring the patient over time and to evaluate the response to therapeutic interventions.
Items in the simple index:
(1) general well-being
(2) abdominal pain
(3) number of liquid stools per day (I assume bowel movements with liquid stools)
(4) abdominal mass
(5) complications (arthralgias, uveitis, erythema nodosum, aphthous ulcers, pyoderma gangrenosum, anal fissure, new fistula, abscess)
For outpatients the first 3 items are scored based on the status of the patient on the day prior to the examination, in order to minimize any effect introduced by coming to the clinic visit.
|
Item |
Finding |
Points |
|
general well-being |
very well |
0 |
|
|
slightly below par |
1 |
|
|
poor |
2 |
|
|
very poor |
3 |
|
|
terrible |
4 |
|
abdominal pain |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
number of liquid stools per day |
|
|
|
abdominal mass |
none |
0 |
|
|
dubious |
1 |
|
|
definite |
2 |
|
|
definite and tender |
3 |
|
arthralgias |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
uveitis |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
erythema nodosum |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
aphthous ulcers |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
pyoderma gangenosum |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
anal fissure |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
new fistula |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
abscess |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
simple index =
= SUM(points for findings present)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 17 + number of liquid bowel movements
• The higher the index, the more severe the disease activity.
Performance:
• The index was demonstrated to correlate well with other disease activity indices.
Specialty: Gastroenterology
