Clinical study of chronic inflammatory bowel disease / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare the difference of the symptom, sign and laboratory findings among chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis in Korea. METHODS: We studied in Chungnam National University Hospital from March, 1990 to December, 1998. Seventy-eight cases of ulcerative colitis, fifteen cases of Crohn's disease, and thirty-nine cases of tuberculous colitis were analyzed in terms of age, sex, symptomatology, laboratory findings, radiologic findings and consequence of treatment. RESULTS: The sex ratio of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were 1.17:1, 1.14:1, and 1.29:1, respectively, and the mean age were 39.3, 26.5 and 36.0 years, respectively. The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were bloody stool, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, respectively. In terms of symptoms and signs, we found that significant differences were bloody stool, diarrhea, and weight loss. Patients with tuberculosis colitis revealed significantly high rate of tuberculous lesion on chest X-ray. Among them, 14(35.9%) of the cases showed active tuberculous lesions. In terms of anatomical distribution of the lesion, the most frequently involved sites of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were rectosigmoid colon. descending colon, and ileocecal valve, respectively. CONCLUSION: In differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis, we should consider clinical findings, laboratory findings, colonoscopic appearance, histologic assessment, anatomical distribution of the lesions, and treatment course.