Clinical appearance at diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in a regional patient group.

A regional patient group comprising 783 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 185 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosed during the period 1960 to 1978 was analysed in accordance with clinical appearance at diagnosis. Of the UC patients, 16% showed total colonic involvement, 41% substantial colonic involvement, and 41% rectal affection only. The disease extent was positively correlated to the degree of activity but not to the age or sex of the patients. 70% of the patients were in moderately or very active stage of disease, 28% in slightly active stage, and 2% inactive at the time of diagnosis. 43% of the patients had experienced weight loss, 27% fever, and 53% abdominal pains in their initial attack of the disease. Immunological manifestations were present in 13%. Of the CD patients 31% had small-bowel localization only, 28% large bowel only, 36% ileocolonic affection, and 5% other combinations. Patients with ileal involvement were significantly younger than patients with colonic involvement. There was no sex difference in accordance with the localization of Crohn's disease. 71% of the patients were in moderately or very active stage of disease and 29% in low activity at diagnosis. The intestinal symptoms were independent of the sex and age of the patients, whereas abdominal pains were present significantly more frequently in younger age groups. In all, 76% of the patients experienced abdominal pains, 34% fever, and 54% weight loss. Immunological symptoms from joints, skin, or eyes were present in 12% of the patients.