Purpose: To test the hypothesis that increased blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) reflects disease activity in patients with Crohn disease.
Materials and methods: Duplex Doppler sonographic measurements of SMA blood flow volume were obtained in 10 patients with active Crohn disease, 10 patients with chronic inactive Crohn disease, and 10 healthy volunteers. Disease activity was determined with clinical and laboratory indicators.
Results: Interstudy reproducibility of repeated SMA flow volume measurements was good (r = .98). A marked increase in SMA flow volume was noted in patients with active disease compared with patients with inactive disease and healthy volunteers: 1,588 mL/min +/- 576 versus 288 mL/min +/- 113 and 417 mL/min +/- 147, respectively (P < .05 for both comparisons).
Conclusion: Activity of Crohn disease causes a substantial increase in SMA flow volume. Measurement of SMA blood flow may be an important noninvasive, readily available, inexpensive tool that can be used to monitor Crohn disease objectively.