Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and course of Korean patients with Crohn's disease (CD).
Methods: A total of 113 patients who were newly diagnosed as having CD at the Asan Medical Center between October 1989 and December 2001 were included.
Results: The male to female ratio was 1.9:1 and the mean age at diagnosis was 24.2 +/- 7.8 years. The disease location was the small bowel in 19.5%, the large bowel in 11.5%, and the both small and large bowels in 69.0% of the patients. Empirical anti-tuberculous medications were administered to 53 cases (46.9%). Major complications of CD were intestinal obstruction (25.7%) and perianal fistula (42.5%). The cumulative remission rate was 75.7% at 1 year and 80.7% at 3 years from diagnosis. The cumulative relapse rate was 30.7% at 1 year and 53.0% at 3 years from remission. The cumulative operation rate was 11.5% at 1 year and 13.1% at 3 years from diagnosis.
Conclusions: There are no differences in the remission and recurrence rates between Korean and Western patients with CD. Although the cumulative operation rate seems to be lower in Korea than in Western countries, the cause of the difference is uncertain. Further studies are needed to determine the characteristics of CD in Korea.