[Risk factors for Crohn's disease relapse after treatment of intestinal stenosis]

Postoperative recurrences of Crohn's disease (CD) has been widely investigated in previous studies. Nevertheless, the risk factors for CD recurrence in patients presenting with intestinal stenosis are not clearly identified.

Thirty consecutive patients out of a cohort of 134 patients with CD presented with an intestinal stenosis diagnosed between 1995 and 1999. Epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic data were carefully recorded. A univariate analysis followed by stepwise descending discriminant analysis was performed.

Sixteen patients (53%) underwent surgery, six received steroid therapy, eight were given antibiotics, and seven took immunosuppressive drugs. The mean follow-up after medical or surgical management was 2.8 years. Thirteen patients (43%) had CD relapse during the follow-up. Considering the univariate analysis, the existence of a previous appendectomy and the persistence of tobacco consumption were significantly associated with the risk of CD relapse during the follow-up. The stepwise descending discriminant analysis identified three independant factors: tobacco consumption (p = 0.007), previous appendicectomy (p = 0.04) and duration of the follow-up (p = 0.02).

The CD relapse after the management of small bowel stenosis occurred in 43% of the patients within a mean follow-up of 2.8 years. The significant factors associated with the risk of CD relapse were tobacco consumption, previous appendectomy and duration of the follow-up.