Factors Associated With Development of Perianal Fistulas in Pediatric Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Perianal fistulizing complications (PFCs) develop among 15%-40% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), are difficult to treat, commonly recur, and increase healthcare costs.1-4 Few reliable predictors of PFCs are known, and no evidence-based preventive strategies exist. Studies often rely on inconsistent methods for identifying PFCs.3-5 Rigorous study design is essential. Occult PFCs may be present at CD diagnosis but may not become apparent until later, leading to PFCs being erroneously misclassified as developing later. We therefore sought to determine the risk factors for developing PFCs among children with CD in whom PFCs were conclusively ruled out with cross-sectional imaging at diagnosis.