PCDAI scores accurately reflect disease activity as assessed by physician global assessment. A PCDAI score of > or = 30 has acceptable sensitivity and specificity to indicate disease of moderate/severe activity. A PCDAI decrease of 12.5 points or greater following therapeutic intervention accurately reflects a clinically significant response. The PCDAI is an appropriate tool for intervention trials in Crohn disease in children.

The presence of normal screening laboratory studies should not dissuade clinicians from considering a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.

In this large prospective pediatric IBD cohort, significant improvement in HRQOL is noted during the year from diagnosis. Mean IMPACT scores varied significantly depending on the disease severity and also decreased with increasing age.

80% of children with newly diagnosed moderate to severe CD are treated with IM within 1 year. Early IM use is associated with reduced corticosteroid exposure and possibly fewer hospitalizations per patient.