Low predictive value of histopathological scoring system for complications development in children with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: In pediatric Crohn's disease (PCD), the benefit of microscopy in disease activity assessment and prediction of clinical outcome is, due to the focality and transmurality of the inflammation, disputable. We investigated whether histopathological scoring system predicts complications in pediatric CD and correlates with endoscopical and clinical scores.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 63 patients. Endoscopy in the time of diagnosis was evaluated using the Simple Endoscopic Score (SES) and histopathology with the Global Histology Activity Score, both in its original version (GHAS) and its modification (modGHAS). Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) was also calculated. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of defined complications (intraabdominal abscess or fistula, perianal fistulating disease or stricture impenetrable for endoscope or with prestenotic dilatation) during one year of follow-up, or the necessity to initiate anti-TNF treatment for persisting or relapsing active disease in the same time period. Associations were tested with Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS: SES was higher in patients with complications. However, in case of GHAS, modGHAS and PCDAI we did not find any significant association with complicated course of disease. SES above 16 points was revealed as an independent risk factor for complications development in PCD, in contrary to GHAS, modGHAS and PCDAI. We demonstrated only a weak correlation between GHAS, modGHAS and SES and no correlation between the histopathological scoring systems and PCDAI.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the histopathological scoring system cannot be recommended as a reliable predictor of development of complications in children with CD.