Correlation between clinical functional assessment of the sphincteric function and endoanal ultrasound findings in perineal Crohn¿s disease

Introdução: A incidência da doença de Crohn Perineal (DCP) varia entre 20% a 25% nos portadores de doença de Crohn . O padrão-ouro para a investigação da DCP é a avaliação clínica clássica seguida do exame sob anestesia, mas a ultrassonografia endoanal (USEA) e a ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) da pelve podem ser úteis na pesquisa de abscessos, fistulas e lesões esfincterianas que podem levar à incontinência fecal e perda da qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Correlacionar a avaliação clínica clássica da função esfincteriana por meio do escore de Jorge-Wexner nos pacientes com DCP, comparando com os achados de USEA, através do escore de Starck. Casuística e Método: Vinte e quatro pacientes participaram do estudo, sendo 14 do sexo feminino e média de idade de 40,54 anos. Todos os doentes tinham diagnóstico confirmado de DCP, sendo que 7 (29,16%) também apresentavam acometimento do intestino delgado; 7 (29,16%) do cólon e reto, 2 (8,33%) do intestino delgado, do cólon e reto e 8 pacientes (33,33%) apresentavam DCP como manifestação única da doença. Resultados: Os dois escores apresentaram distribuição normal, com escore de Jorge-Wexner médio de 3,8333 (DP 4,52689) e escore de Starck médio de 9,7500 (DP 2,54097). A análise estatística mostrou não haver correlação entre os dois escores, com um intervalo de confiança de 95%. Conclusão: O escore de Jorge- Wexner apresentou utilidade limitada nessa categoria de pacientes, enquanto a USEA foi ferramenta útil para alcançar melhor correlação com deficiência muscular esfincteriana. No entanto, mais estudos com propostas similares são necessários para aumentar a validade desses achados e para estabelecer se a USEA pode predizer a função esfincteriana e a incontinência fecal antes de procedimento cirúrgico em pacientes com DCP.Introduction: The incidence of perianal CD (PCD) is variable between 20% and 25% of patients with CD. The gold standard for assessment of PCD is still the classic clinical examination followed eventually by examination under anesthesia (EUA) but complementary examinations like endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis (MRI) were introduced as useful to completely assess the anatomical lesions of the sphincteric muscles caused by fistulas and abscesses. Objective: Verify the adequacy of the classical clinical evaluation to which most of the patients are submitted, in particular regarding the adequacy of assessing the sphincteric function through the Jorge- Wexner score in patients with PCD, comparing it with the findings of EAUS trough a score published by Stark and colleagues. Patients and Methods: Twenty four patients participated to the study, being 16 females and the mean age is 40.54 years old. All patients have an established diagnosis of PCD, being 7 (29,16%) with a diagnosis of CD involving the small bowel, 7 (29,16%) CD involving the colon and rectum, 2 (8,33%) CD involving the small bowel and the colon-rectum, and 8 (33,33%) have a diagnosis of PCD as the only clinical manifestation of CD. Results: The two scores has a normal distribution, with a mean Wexner score of 3.8333 (SD 4,52689) and a mean Starck score of 9,7500 (SD 2,54097). The statistical analysis showed that there is no correlation between the two scores with a confidence interval of 95%. Conclusion: The Jorge-Wexner score had a limited usefulness in this category of patients, whereas EAUS was an useful tool for achieving better correlation with muscle deficiency. This study investigated CD, a very particular and still not fully understood disease, being the perianal disease important feature of CD. However, more studies with similar purpose are needed, in order to improve the validity of these findings, and establish if the EAUS can predict the sphincter function and fecal continence before perianal surgery for CD