[Morbus Crohn (enteritis regionalis)].

Crohn's disease (regional enteritis) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory intestinal disorder of unknown etiology. Most commonly the terminal ileum in involved, a segmentary involvement of the bowel wall is rather characteristic. Main symptoms are recurrent abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea and weight loss. Radiological and endoscopic examination confirms the diagnosis, granulomas in the biopsy specimen are pathognomonic. In differential diagnosis ulcerative and ischaemic colitis have to be ruled out. Conservative therapy with prednisolone and salazopyrin is the method of choice, however, complications like small bowel obstruction, toxic megacolon and fistulae ask for surgical intervention.