Abstract
The Paediatric Crohn's Disease Study Group (35 paeditric clinics, FR Germany, Austria and Switzerland) has compiled data from 535 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) between 1977-85. On the basis of personal interviews with defined questionnaires precise information on genetics was available on 320 affected families. Multiple cases with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were seen in 51 families, i.e. a familial prevalence of 16 %. 44 families reported “pure” CD, 7 both CD and ulcerative colitis. Most commonly one additional family member was affected. First degree relatives, mainly siblings, followed by parents, were presented with high frequency. Second, third and fourth degree relatives were markedly less affected. Among 1082 first degree relatives 28 were parents or siblings suffering from CD (risk = 3%) and 6 from ulcerative colitis (risk = 0.5 %).
The calculated data exclude a dominant or recessive gene mechanism but rather strongly suggest a polygenic mode of inheritance. However, in contrast to these genetics, there is no evidence from our data that children with a positive family history develop CD significantly earlier in life than those with a negative history.
Supported by Volkswagen Foundation, Hannover, FRG
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Keller, I., Kirchmann, H., Kuch, M. et al. 32. FAMILIAL INCIDENCE OF CROHN'S DISEASE IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 22, 101 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00053
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00053