title: Long-term endoscopic follow-up in small bowel transplant recipients: single-center series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reliability of endoscopic findings after adult intestinal transplantation on short-term follow-up has been shown. The aim of this study was to evaluate in a long-term follow-up the diagnostic value of endoscopies compared with the biopsy value.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 52 endoscopies over a period of 2 years (2 in each patient in 2010 and 1 in each patient in 2011, plus 1 endoscopy for suspected post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease [PTLD]) on 17 recipients transplanted between the years 2000 and 2006 (more than 5 years of follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 52 endoscopic findings were comparable to biopsy definitive results: only 1 case of mild enteritis and 1 case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) chronic infection at biopsy were not diagnosed by endoscopy. One case of rectal PTLD and 1 of EBV-related enteritis were diagnosed by use of both procedures. Specificity was 98%: we did not calculate sensitivity because no episodes of rejection were diagnosed because recipients were stable in long-term follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopy is a reliable procedure even on a long-term follow-up after intestinal transplantation, allowing a support to biopsy for diagnosis on adult recipients, especially for EBV infections and PTLD surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: augustola@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lauro
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.affiliation: F. Addarii Institute of Oncology and Pathology, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagni
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanfi
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dazzi
authors.affiliation: Chronic Intestinal Failure Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pironi
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Center, St.Orsola University Hospital-Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Di Simone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult