cqvip:Background and aims: Epithelioid granulomas is one of the best histological c riterion for distinguishing Crohn’ s disease (CD) from other inflammatory bowel diseases. Few data are available on the time of occurrence of epithelioid granu lomas, and the value of epithelioid granulomas in predicting outcome has been de termined only in cohorts of prevalent CD cases. Our objective was to evaluate ep ithelioid granuloma occurrence in incident CD cases and to examine the associations between epithelioid granulomas and outc ome. Patients and methods: We reviewed the histological reports of endoscopic an d surgical specimens in a cohort of 188 consecutive incident CD cases seen in 19 94 and 1995, and recorded the occurrence of epithelioid granulomas, isolated gia nt cells, and microgranulomas. Kaplan- Meier curves were plotted for time from CD diagnosis to immunosuppressive treatment or surgery, and associations between epithelioid granulomas and outcome were evaluated in a multivariate analysis. F ollow up was at least five years. Results: Granulomas were found in 69 (37% ) p atients, including 46 (25% ) at presentation. Median time from CD diagnosis to epithelioid granuloma detection was 0.16 (0- 63)months overall, and 9.59 (0.1- 63) months in 23 patients who became epithelioid granuloma positive during foll ow up. Isolated giant cells were found in 6% of patients and microgranulomas i n 12% . Epithelioid granuloma detection increased with the number of endoscopic sampling procedures; sampling site had no influence. By multivariate analysis, epithelioid granulomas were associated with surgical resection but not immunosup pressive therapy. Conclusions: Epithelioid granulomas may separate CD into two p athological subsets and may indicate aggressive disease.
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