Narrow-band imaging endoscopy to assess mucosal angiogenesis in inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether narrow band imaging (NBI) is a useful tool for the in vivo detection of angiogenesis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.


METHODS
Conventional and NBI colonoscopy was performed in 14 patients with colonic inflammation (8 ulcerative colitis and 6 Crohn's disease). Biopsy samples were taken and CD31 expression was assayed immunohistochemically; microvascular density was assessed by vessel count.


RESULTS
In areas that were endoscopically normal but positive on NBI, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in angiogenesis (12 +/- 1 vessels/field vs 18 +/- 2 vessels/field) compared with areas negative on NBI. In addition, in areas that were inflamed on white light endoscopy and positive on NBI, there was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in vessel density (24 +/- 7 vessels/field) compared with NBI-negative areas.


CONCLUSIONS
NBI may allow in vivo imaging of intestinal angiogenesis in IBD patients.
Danese
Silvio
S
Division of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Viale Manzoni, Rozzano, Milan 20089, Italy. sdanese@hotmail.com
Fiorino
Gionata
G
Angelucci
Erika
E
Vetrano
Stefania
S
Pagano
Nico
N
Rando
Giacomo
G
Spinelli
Antonino
A
Malesci
Alberto
A
Repici
Alessandro
A
D001706:Biopsy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1