[Crohn disease in advanced age]

Crohn's disease of late onset (greater than 65 years) is rare condition. Typical features are the localisation in the distal gastrointestinal tract and the presence of associated diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and/or diverticulitis. In about 25% of the cases mild intestinal hemorrhage occurs. Delay in diagnosis is sometimes due to coexistent diverticulitis. Ischemia has been suggested to be responsible for the development of the histological changes which occur in Crohn's colitis. Therefore, we carried out a retrospective analysis of our patients treated between 1978-1988 to reevaluate the resected specimens. 10 patients (6.2% of all surgical patients with Crohn's disease) were at least 65 years old at the time of primary operation. In 5 cases hematochezia was one of the symptoms before operation, two patients presented with massive hemorrhage of the lower GI-tract. Granulomas were seen only in 5 patients, whereas in all specimens transmural inflammation was detected. In 8 out of 10 patients vascular lesions were seen, among those thickening of the intimal and medial layers, thrombosis or bleeding. Our findings support the thesis that ischemia might play a role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease of late onset.