title: A prospective 12-week mucosal healing assessment of small bowel Crohn's disease as detected by capsule endoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mucosal healing is increasingly recognized as an important treatment goal in Crohn's disease (CD). Data from colonic disease shows improved long-term outcomes in patients achieving complete mucosal healing. Little is currently known of this with respect to ileitis, which is increasingly diagnosed using small bowel capsule endoscopy. The study aimed to prospectively assess mucosal healing and deep remission rates in a cohort of symptomatic small bowel CD patients commencing biologic or immunomodulator therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline demographics, quality of life questionnaires and Harvey-Bradshaw index were collected along with C-reactive protein and calprotectin. Capsule endoscopy Crohn's disease activity (CECDAI) index was used to assess ileitis severity. All parameters were reassessed at week 12. Results at baseline and week 12 were compared using two-tailed Wilcoxon analysis, P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 43 patients of 71 screened underwent 80 small bowel capsule endoscopies. On the basis of the CECDAI, 39 (90%) demonstrated active small bowel CD at baseline with 37 (86%) undergoing 12-week assessment. Overall there was a statistically significant symptomatic and biochemical improvement at week 12. Furthermore, 10 (27%) had demonstrated a normalization in CECDAI (<3.5), which was statistically significant (P<0.0005, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.15). However, no patient had achieved full mucosal healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with active small bowel CD early symptomatic and biochemical response to treatment is not mirrored by mucosal healing. Repeat mucosal healing assessment in this cohort is warranted following a longer duration of treatment to identify potential mucosal healing and deep remission rates.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Gastroenterology, Adelaide and Meath Hospital bDepartment of Gastroenterology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Grainne E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Holleran
authors.forename: Sinead M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000503:physiopathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; D000068879:Adalimumab