Efficacy of early intervention on the bowel damage and intestinal surgery of Crohn's disease, based on the Lemann index

BackgroundClinicians aim to prevent progression of Crohn's disease (CD); however, many patients require surgical resection because of cumulative bowel damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early intervention on bowel damage in patients with CD using the Lemann Index and to identify bowel resection predictors. MethodsWe analyzed consecutive patients with CD retrospectively. The Lemann Index was determined at the point of inclusion and at follow-up termination. The Paris definition was used to subdivide patients into early and late CD groups.ResultsWe included 154 patients, comprising 70 with early CD and 84 with late CD. After follow-up for 17.0 months, more patients experienced a decrease in the Lemann Index (61.4% vs. 42.9%), and fewer patients showed an increase in the Lemann Index (20% vs. 35.7%) in the early compared with the late CD group. Infliximab and other therapies reversed bowel damage to a greater extent in early CD patients than in late CD patients. Twenty-two patients underwent intestinal surgery, involving 5 patients in the early CD group and 17 patients in the late CD group. Three independent predictors of bowel resection were identified: baseline Lemann index >= 8.99, disease behavior B1, and history of intestinal surgery.ConclusionsEarly intervention within 18 months after CD diagnosis could reverse bowel damage and decrease short-term intestinal resection. Patients with CD with a history of intestinal surgery, and/or a Lemann index>8.99 should be treated aggressively and monitored carefully to prevent progressive bowel damage.