Acute Terminal Ileitis

Abstract

Acute terminal ileitis was first described by Crohn et al. (7) in 1932. Since then the relationship of this disease to chronic regional enteritis, Crohn's disease, has been discussed. One of the extremes in this discussion has been represented by Crohn himself, who in a review of the subject in 1965 (6) stated that the disease is always a manifestation of chronic regional enteritis even if it resolves spontaneously without further complications in half the patients. On the other hand, at about the same time others stated (8, 13) that acute terminal ileitis will always resolve spontaneously and never progress to chronic regional enteritis. Later, the demonstration of Yersinia enterocolitica infection as a possible cause of acute terminal ileitis threw a new light upon the discussion. The following is a review of recent literature on this subject.