Mid-arm circumference as simple means of identifying malnutrition in Crohn's disease.

concentration was 7-9 t 2-6 mmol/l (142-2 L46-8 mg/100 ml) (mean SD, n = 3871), range 4-4 to 20-2 mmol/l (79-2 L 363-6 mg/100 ml).In the four days before treatment with the Biostator the blood glucose concentration was 149j1 8-9 mmol/l (268-2 £160-2 mg/100 ml) (n-61) and the range 1-44 mmol/l (18-792 mg/100 ml).After this period of relative stability it was much easier to control her diabetes with intravenous and then subcutaneous infusions of insulin, and she went home on 5 February 1982 taking her usual subcutaneous dose.*Comparison with three other groups: p<0 001 (Student's t test). CommentPatients with Crohn's disease with a mid-arm circumference less than 90% of the ideal standard had appreciably reduced laboratory and anthropometric variables compared with well-nourished patients whose mid-arm circumference was greater than 90% of the ideal standard.The impaired nutrition probably reflects more extensive small-bowel disease.Well-nourished patients with Crohn's disease were in turn similar to the two control groups.There was no significant difference in steroid treatment between the two groups with Crohn's disease, so that any steroid effect would not invalidate the result.