Incidence of Paediatric Stricturing Duodenal Crohn Disease: A 19-Year Population-based Cohort Study

Stricturing duodenal Crohn disease (CD) is a rare but serious presentation of CD causing significant morbidity. We aim to provide the first robust incidence data and case studies on this severe presentation in children.

A regional cohort of prospectively acquired incident cases of paediatric CD diagnosed <16 years of age in South-East Scotland was captured over a 19-year period (1999-2018). A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of all patients together with a review of the available literature and consensus guidelines. Incidence rates for all CD and for duodenal stricturing CD were calculated.

A total of 247 new cases of paediatric CD were diagnosed within the study period. Median age at diagnosis was 12.5 years with 62% male predominance. Overall paediatric CD incidence rate was 5.70/100,000/year with a specific duodenal B2 phenotype disease incidence rate of 0.05/100,000/year; representing 0.8% of incident cases at diagnosis. Two incident cases of stricturing duodenal CD presented with systemic symptoms of weight loss, abdominal pain, anorexia, and lethargy, together with persistent vomiting suggestive of obstruction. Both cases partially responded to intensive medical therapy but eventually required laparoscopic gastroduodenostomy. A detailed literature search confirmed there are no paediatric incidence data, guidelines, or case reports relating to duodenal stricture as either a presentation or complication of CD.

Duodenal structuring disease is a rare but serious presentation of CD causing significant morbidity and not currently covered in the paediatric literature or consensus guidelines. Best practice medical and surgical management remain uncertain and require further research.