prognosis

Last reviewed 01/2021

  • most patients have a chronic intermittent disease course, while 13% have an unremitting disease course and 10% have a prolonged remission
  • less than half require corticosteroids at any point
  • during any given year, approximately 10% are treated with corticosteroids and 30% are treated with 5-aminosalicylates
  • up to 57% of patients require at least one surgical resection
  • about one tenth of patients have prolonged remission (1)
  • nearly 75% of patients have a chronic intermittent course, and about one eighth have an unremitting course
  • if the patient has both small and large bowel disease then about 70% will require surgical intervention.

The atypical form of Crohn's is an acute ileitis. This, unlike other forms of Crohn's, does not recur and may represent a completely different disease.

The excess mortality in patients with Crohn's disease is approximately double that of the general population. This is due to the complications of active disease.

Reference:

  1. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002 Jan;16(1):51-60