Capsule endoscopy findings in patients with suspected Crohn's disease and biochemical markers of inflammation.
BACKGROUND
Because it provides a direct view of superficial lesions in the small bowel, capsule endoscopy is a promising diagnostic tool for studying patients with suspected Crohn's disease undetected by conventional modalities.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of patients with suspected Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients (16 males, mean age 46.2 years) with suspected Crohn's disease but negative at conventional imaging were examined using capsule endoscopy. They were divided into 2 groups: 12 patients with ongoing symptoms (Group 1), and 26 with ongoing symptoms and biochemical markers of inflammation (Group 2). Capsule endoscopy findings were classified as diagnostic (multiple erosions/ulcerations), suspicious (<or=3 erosions/ulcerations), non-specific and normal.


RESULTS
Capsule endoscopy findings were diagnostic for Crohn's disease in 13 (34.2%) patients, suspicious in 2 (5.3%), non-specific in 4 (10.5%) and normal in 19 (50%), with an overall detection rate of 39.5%. The yield of positive findings was 8.3% in Group 1 and 46.2% in Group 2 (p=0.022). Capsule endoscopy findings prompted specific measures or patient management changes in 39.5% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Capsule endoscopy has a high diagnostic yield in patients with suspected Crohn's disease and both clinical and biochemical markers of inflammation.
Gastroenterology Unit, S. Maria del Prato Hospital, Via Bagnols sur Ceze, 3, 32032 Feltre, Bl, Italy. nicki.debona@alice.it
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De Bona
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Bellumat
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Cian
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Valiante
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Moschini
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De Boni
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002214:Capsules; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015415:Biomarkers; D002214:Capsules; D002097:C-Reactive Protein