Assessing pediatric ileocolonic Crohn’s disease activity based on global MR enterography scores

Objectives This study was aimed at correlating a magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) and a magnetic resonance enterography global score (MEGS) with activity indexes in a paediatric population with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods This retrospective study included 32 paediatric patients (median age 14.5 years, 18 male) with proven CD who underwent magnetic resonance enterography (MRE). A correlation analysis was performed on the MRE-based scores, the simplified endoscopic score for CD (SES-CD), the paediatric Crohn’s disease activity index (PCDAI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Based on PCDAI, comparison of both global MaRIA and MEGS was made between patients with mild and moderate/severe disease activity. Results Global MaRIA correlated with SES-CD ( r = 0.70, p = 0.001) and PCDAI ( r = 0.42, p = 0.016). MEGS correlated with PCDAI ( r = 0.46, p = 0.007) and CRP levels ( r = 0.35, p = 0.046). MEGS differed significantly ( p = 0.027) between patients grouped by clinical disease severity. Conclusions MRE-based global scores correlated with clinical indexes of CD activity. Therefore, they represent a potential useful tool to predict CD activity and severity, as well as a possible promising alternative to endoscopy, to monitor paediatric patients with CD during their follow-up. Key Points • MRE is widely used to for accurate assessment of CD . • Global MaRIA and MEGS have been suggested as indicators of CD activity . • Paediatric studies comparing MRE-based global scores with clinical CD activity are lacking . • Such scores can serve as predictors of CD activity/severity in paediatric patients . • MRE offers an alternative to clinical score/endoscopy for paediatric CD monitoring .