title: Esophageal capsule endoscopy is a useful tool in patients with hemophilia.
abstract: Esophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE) is considered to be an alternative to conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD); however, its indications continue to expand. This report presents results from the use of ECE in patients with hemophilia at a tertiary referral academic center over a 7-year period. A total of 16 patients with hemophilia, who were all at risk of new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease due to previous treatment with UK plasma-derived pooled blood products, underwent a total of 28 ECE examinations. Main outcomes were the diagnostic yield of ECE, requirement for subsequent conventional EGD, and any variceal bleeding episodes during the follow-up period. The overall diagnostic yield was 67.8 % (19 /28 ECEs). Only one patient underwent conventional EGD, for esophageal biopsies. There were no variceal hemorrhage events in any of the patients on variceal screening follow-up. ECE is a useful and acceptable alternative to conventional endoscopy in selected patient groups (i. e. patients with hemophilia). In this group, ECE can eliminate the need for prior administration of clotting factors.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koulaouzidis
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Yun Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Plevris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies