Contrast‐enhanced power Doppler of the intestinal wall in the evaluation of patients with Crohn disease

Background: Crohn disease (CD) manifests with highly variable signs and symptoms, and assessment of the status of the disease in the single patient can be difficult. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of power colour Doppler ultrasonography, with and without echo‐enhancement, in distinguishing active from quiescent CD. Methods: Resistance Index (RI) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), bowel thickness of the affected loops and the presence of colour signals at power Doppler analysis prior to and after ultrasonography contrast agent injection (Levovist®) were evaluated in 48 patients with CD. Results: In our series, 26/48 patients had active and 22/48 had quiescent CD. A CDAI score ≥150 and a pathological (>5 mg/dL) C reactive protein were significantly correlated with active disease (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Intestinal wall thickness showed no significant correlation with disease status (7.5 ± 1.3 mm in active disease versus 6.8 ± 1.3 mm in quiescent disease; P = 0.11). V...