[Prevalence of bone decalcification in the treatment of Crohn's disease]

In clinically active Crohn's disease the bone mineralization is impaired due to calcium malabsorption by the inflamed intestinal wall which is potentiated by diarrhoea and the thus accelerated transit time. To this we must add the shortening of the gut after operations, the inadequate dietary calcium supply or possibly calcium elimination in case of concurrent lactose intolerance. Corticoid treatment leads also to deterioration of bone mineralization. This is the reason why the authors assessed in 98 patients with Crohn's disease the bone mineralization, using the method of clavicular bone index (NIBA). Then treatment was started: a high protein diet, calcium forte, Ossin (sodium fluoride), vitamin D forte, anabolics and regular physical exercise. Check-up examinations after one year revealed that the index was restored in the majority of patients (60.84%) to normal. The above treatment is thus effective. It must be, however, regular and of a long-term character, in some patients it must extend over many years. We had, however, also patients who although subjected to an extensive resection of the gut and treated for prolonged periods with corticoids, had permanently an index between 100 and 120% without treatment.