Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in Crohn's disease

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced power Doppler (CEPD) after ultrasound (US) with colour power Doppler (CPD) in defining disease activity in patients with ileal Crohn's disease in the acute phase and during treatment follow-up.

The study included 15 patients with ileal Crohn's disease, 12 of whom were examined in the acute phase of their illness and then 30-60 days after treatment. Three patients were studied during clinical quiescence. All patients were examined prior to treatment with US-CPD study and then with contrast-enhanced power Doppler (CEPD) examination (CEPD) with the use of US contrast agent (SonoVue, Bracco), together with clinical assessment and laboratory tests. Disease activity was defined by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and some of the most sensitive biohumoural markers. After initial US, CPD and CEPD were performed to assess enhancement of the thickened bowel wall with the use of a reference box and a semiquantitative scoring system.

The CEPD study is more reliable then US-CPD in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and statistically agrees significantly with clinical and laboratory indices for disease activity.

This study demonstrates the importance of US-CPD in the follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease and suggests systematic use of the US contrast agent, which can improve diagnostic performance of abdominal US study. It also provides more information about patients both in the acute phase and during follow-up, thus improving treatment planning and better monitoring of treatment efficacy.