Growth as a parameter of inflammation in Crohn's disease, using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis.
Growth rate was measured in 12 children with Crohn's disease and growth retardation, using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. The method was chosen as it provides an opportunity to record growth rate accurately during short periods of time. Growth was followed at variable intervals of 4-12 weeks depending on the clinical situation. Growth rate was shown to correlate with symptoms, laboratory tests and nitrogen balance. These findings indicate that growth, when it is affected, fluctuates in a similar way as albumin, acute phase proteins and symptoms, all assumed to reflect the disease activity. Short-term growth measurements appear to be helpful in monitoring the disease progress or response to therapy in children with Crohn's disease, particularly when growth retardation is the only manifestation of the disease.