Table 1.

Variables at Diagnosis Associated with Aggressive Crohn's Disease

Younger age (<40 years) Perianal disease Stenotic disease Involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract Need for corticosteroids on the first flare-up Lack of mucosal healing after induction of clinical remission Smoking Presence of epithelioid granulomas Higher titers of ASCA, anti-OmpC, and anti-CBir1 Mutations in the NOD2/CARD15, ATG16L1, and MDR1 genes

Anti-CBir1

antibody against flagellin expressed by Clostridial phylum

anti-OmpC

antibody to the outer membrane porin of Escherichia coli

ASCA

anti—Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody.