OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of enteral nutrition(EN) therapy for active Crohn disease(CD) complicated with incomplete intestinal obstruction.

METHODSClinical data of 37 patients with active CD complicated with incomplete intestinal obstruction treated with EN(n=37) between January 2003 and September 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. CD activity index (CDAI) was between 150 and 450. The patients received total enteral nutrition (TEN) 125 kJ/kg by nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy(PEG/J) tube. Clinical response was defined as a decrease in CDAI≥70 from baseline since EN therapy, and clinical remission was defined as CDAI<150. Nutritional status, disease activity index, and side effects were recorded at the 0, 4th, and 12th week after EN therapy.

RESULTSStricture or stenosis location included ileum in 8 (21.6%) patients, ileocolon in 19(51.4%), colon in 4(10.8%), jejunoileum in 5(13.5%), and duodenum in 1(2.7%). At 4 weeks after EN, CDAI significantly decreased(112.0±39.6 vs.174.6±34.7,P<0.05). The ratio of clinical response was 43.2%(16/37) and clinical remission was 72.9%(27/37). At 12 weeks, CDAI was 70.2±32.9, lower than that at week 4(P<0.05). The ratio of clinical response was 70.2%(26/37) and clinical remission was 78.4%(29/37). Other disease activity indexes such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and nutritional status such as BMI, serum albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and hemoglobin showed similar trend. During therapy, 7 cases had progressive intestinal obstruction resulting in bowel resection, 11 cases had diarrhea and/or abdominal distention due to inadequate infusion of home EN whose symptoms were improved after correction by the doctor.

CONCLUSIONSEN therapy can induce clinical response and remission in CD complicated with incomplete intestinal obstruction, relieve obstruction, alleviate the inflammatory response which plays positive role in the treatment of CD.