Volume 124, Issue 7, Pages 1728-1737 (June 2003) Subclinical intestinal inflammation: an inherited abnormality in Crohn’s disease relatives?  Bjarni Thjodleifsson, Gudmundur Sigthorsson, Nick Cariglia, Inga Reynisdottir, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Kristleifur Kristjansson, Jonathan B. Meddings, Vilmundur Gudnason, Johan H. Wandall, Leif Percival Andersen, Roy Sherwood, Matthias Kjeld, Einar Oddsson, Hallgrimur Gudjonsson, Ingvar Bjarnason  Gastroenterology  Volume 124, Issue 7, Pages 1728-1737 (June 2003) DOI: 10.1016/S0016-5085(03)00383-4

Figure 1 Fecal calprotectin concentrations in patients with Crohn’s disease, their first-degree relatives, and their spouses. The horizontal line indicates the upper normal limit of fecal calprotectin concentrations. A total of 88% of patients with Crohn’s disease and 49% of their first-degree relatives have increased calprotectin concentrations, representing intestinal inflammation. Two spouses (13%) had evidence of low-grade intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology 2003 124, 1728-1737DOI: (10.1016/S0016-5085(03)00383-4)

Figure 2 The pedigrees of 36 patients with Crohn’s disease. A box represents a male and a circle a female. Blank boxes and circles indicate that the subject was not studied. Shaded boxes and circles indicate subjects with increased fecal calprotectin concentrations. Those with a dot indicate subjects with normal concentrations. Arrows identify index cases of Crohn’s disease. Deceased subjects have an oblique line going through the box or circle. Two of the patients with Crohn’s disease have died since the study was performed. Analyses of the inheritance pattern (text) of the subclinical intestinal inflammation among the first-degree relatives of the patients with Crohn’s disease show a pattern consistent with an additive trait. Gastroenterology 2003 124, 1728-1737DOI: (10.1016/S0016-5085(03)00383-4)