Azathioprine is more effective than mesalazine at preventing recurrent bowel obstruction in patients with ileocecal Crohn's disease.

Background: Patients with subocclusive Crohn's disease (CD) who received azathioprine (AZA) therapy had lower re-hospitalization rates due to all causes and for surgical management of CD compared to those treated with mesalazine during a 3-year period. We investigated whether AZA also was effective for prevention of recurrent bowel obstruction.

Material/methods: Rates of recurrent bowel occlusion were compared between patients treated with AZA and those treated with mesalazine.

Effect of azathioprine or mesalazine therapy on incidence of re-hospitalization in sub-occlusive ileocecal Crohn's disease patients.

Background: Although the cost of Crohn's disease (CD) treatment differs considerably, hospitalization and surgery costs account for most of the total treatment cost. Decreasing hospitalization and surgery rates are pivotal issues in reducing health-care costs. MATERIAL/METHODS We evaluated the effect of azathioprine (AZA) compared with mesalazine on incidence of re-hospitalizations due to all causes and for CD-related surgeries.

[Assessment of surgical scars: a quantitative method].

Objective: To describe an objective assessment method, based on quantifiable criteria, and compare it with subjective patient and surgeon assessments.

Methods: 136 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were prospectively analyzed. Surgical scars were evaluated six months after surgery, with measurements of widening, hypertrophy and retraction.