Endoscopic and bioptic findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with Crohn's disease.

A prospective study was carried out on 41 patients diagnosed as having Crohn's disease (CD) to evaluate the degree of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement. In 23 patients (56%), endoscopic alterations were found most frequently affecting the antrum and duodenum. Lesions encountered were: Aphthoid erosions, ulcers, thickening of folds, nodules, erythema and stenosis. Granulomas were found in biopsies in 19.5% of the patients: They were more frequent in those demonstrating endoscopic alterations (26%) than in those with normal endoscopic findings (11%). Clinical evolution was favorable with conventional treatment for CD and ranitidine, although the endoscopic lesions did not totally disappear in any cases. We conclude that upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies is useful in evaluating the extension of disease and can be of diagnostic value in cases of indeterminate colitis.