Regional Enteritis: Disease Patterns and Medical Management

• Main Authors: Gilbert, J. A. L., Sartor, V. E.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1964
• Subjects: Symposium on Inflammatory Disease of the Intestine; eskimo*
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1927317; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14182559

The clinical picture of regional enteritis was reviewed in 98 cases collected from five hospitals in the City of Edmonton. There was no apparent racial prevalence, although only one case was reported among Indians and Eskimos. More than one-half had their onset between the ages of 11 and 30 years. Men were more commonly affected than women. The onset in 44 patients was acute and closely mimicked acute appendicitis. Twenty-eight patients had had abdominal surgery prior to the onset of symptoms. Major symptoms were abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. Abdominal tenderness, fever and abdominal mass were the most consistent physical signs. The most valuable diagnostic procedure was radiological examination of the bowel. Complications were largely confined to the gastrointestinal tract. In the majority of cases, surgery was the ultimate form of therapy.