Bohra A, Lewis D, Segal JP, Vasudevan A, Van Langenberg DR, Niewiadomski O. Utility of panenteric capsule endoscopy for the detection of small-bowel Crohn's disease in patients with a normal magnetic resonance enterography: A prospective observational pilot study.
JGH Open 2023;
7:966-973. [PMID:
38162838 PMCID:
PMC10757497 DOI:
10.1002/jgh3.13013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Background and Aim
Capsule endoscopy allows the direct visualization of the small bowel. We examined the diagnostic utility of a new modality, namely panenteric Crohn's capsule endoscopy (CE), in detecting active small-bowel Crohn's disease (CD) in those with normal magnetic resonance enterography (MRE).
Methods
We prospectively recruited patients with a diagnosis of CD or suspected small-bowel CD in whom the MRE was normal. Inclusion criteria included abdominal symptoms and abnormal serum or fecal biomarkers. The primary outcome was the detection of active small-bowel CD (measured through the Lewis score [LS]). Secondary outcomes included change in Montreal classification for those with a pre-existing CD diagnosis, change in medical therapy, clinical activity, and biomarkers at baseline and 6 months, and quality-of-life measures.
Results
A total of 22 patients with a diagnosis of CD or suspected new diagnosis were recruited, with CE complete to the caecum in 21 and 18/21 (86%) showing evidence of active small-bowel CD (LS > 135). Of the patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of CD, 9/11 (82%) had a change in Montreal classification. At 6 months following CE, 17/18 (94%) had clinician-directed change in therapy. This correlated with an improvement in the quality of life (P < 0.05 as per the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), a reduction in the Harvey Bradshaw index (median: 7-4, P < 0.001), and favorable CRP and albumin response.
Conclusion
Crohn's CE is a useful diagnostic test for assessing active small-bowel CD when imaging is normal but clinical suspicion is high. Crohn's CE should be integrated into the diagnostic algorithm for small-bowel CD.
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