Table 1

Monitoring of Crohn's disease with ileocolonoscopy

AdvantagesDrawbacks
 ▸ Direct visualisation of intestinal lesions  ▸ Validated index of severity  ▸ Predictive value for   – Postoperative recurrence   – Risk of relapse upon anti-TNF withdrawal   – Risk of requiring abdominal surgery under anti-TNF therapy   – Risk of hospitalisation under anti-TNF therapy ▸ Invasive  ▸ Low acceptance  ▸ Relatively high cost  ▸ No visualisation of the transmural inflammatory process  ▸ Timing of the endoscopic monitoring not established  ▸ Degree of healing to achieve in order to affect disease outcome not established

  • TNF, tumour necrosis factor.