Capsule endoscopy in Crohn's disease - Indications and reservations 2008

Treatment Perspectives in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The pathophysiological understanding of this disease is limited and no curative therapy is available so far. Therefore, most patients require long-lasting or even life-long immunosuppressive therapies for the suppression of symptoms to improve quality of life and reduction of long-term risks. However, in a relevant subgroup of patients, these therapeutic goals cannot be sufficiently attained.

SUMMARY

Clinically established therapies in active CD comprise corticosteroids and immunosuppressants such as azathioprine. After the introduction of anti-TNFα (Tumor necrosis factor alpha) antibodies, other biologicals (e.g., vedolizumab and ustekinumab) have also been approved. New drugs in the pipeline like filgotinib, upadacitinib, risankizumab or rifaximin could improve the therapy of CD in the near future. Thus, an individualized therapy management, based on optimal selection of therapeutic agents will become more important. Additionally, the local application of mesenchymal stem cells might be helpful in the management of fistulas. Key Messages: The targeted biological therapeutic agents (anti-TNFα antibodies, vedolizumab, ustekinumab) are well established for therapy in CD. There are several new substances in the pipeline with promising results in phase II trials (filgotinib, rifaximin, risankizumab, upadacitinib). The upcoming extension of the therapeutic arsenal will require methods for an optimized selection of substances, thus enabling a more individualized therapy.

[A Case of Small Bowel Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Mimicking Crohn's Disease]

A 66-year-old male with dyspepsia and weight loss was referred to our hospital for evaluation. On laboratory examination, anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA)-IgA was positive and iron deficiency anemia was present. PET/CT and abdominal CT scan images showed multiple small bowel segmental wall thickening and inflammation. Capsule endoscopy images showed multiple small bowel ulcerative lesions with exudates. Based on laboratory test results and imaging studies, the patient was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and treated with prednisolone and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). However, the patient underwent second operation due to small bowel perforation within 2 month after initiation of treatment. Pathology report of the resected specimen was compatible to primary small bowel diffuse large B cell lymphoma and pertinent treatment was given to the patient after recovery. Herein, we describe a case of primary small bowel diffuse large B cell lymphoma that was mistaken for Crohn's disease.

Lewis Score: a useful clinical tool for patients with suspected Crohn's Disease submitted to capsule endoscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The Lewis Score (LS) can assess inflammatory activity on small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). We aimed to evaluate the LS usefulness in the setting of suspected Crohn's Disease (CD).

METHODS

Retrospective single-center study including 56 patients undergoing SBCE for suspected CD. Patients were divided into three groups, according to clinical presentation: Group 1 (28 patients): suspected CD not supported by the International Conference on Capsule Endoscopy (ICCE) criteria; Group 2 (19 patients): suspected CD based on two ICCE criteria; Group 3 (9 patients): patients fulfilling three or more criteria. Inflammatory activity was assessed with the LS. The diagnosis of CD required a minimum follow-up of 6 months after SBCE, basing on clinical evaluation, endoscopic, histological, radiological, and/or biochemical investigations.

RESULTS

SBCE detected significant inflammatory activity (LS≥135) in 23 patients (41.1%), being 5 patients from Group 1 (17.8%), 11 from Group 2 (57.9%) and 7 from Group 3 (77.8%) (p<0.05). CD was diagnosed in 23 patients (41.1%): six patients from Group 1 (21.4%), 10 from Group 2 (52.6%) and 7 from Group 3 (77.8%) (p<0.05). CD was diagnosed in 82.6% of patients with significant inflammatory activity on CE (LS≥135), but in only 12.1% of those having a LS<135 (p<0.05). The LS Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value, Sensitivity and Specificity were 82.6%, 87.9%, 82.6% and 87.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The LS may be a valuable diagnostic tool in the setting of suspected CD. Patients not fulfilling the ICCE criteria have lower LS and fewer are diagnosed with CD during follow-up.

Saddle nose deformity, palatal perforation and truncus arteriosus in a patient with Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory bowel disease which may also involve the extraintestinal organs such as joints, liver, skin and perianal tissue. Involvement of the nasal cavity is quite rare in CD. This case report presents a 28-year-old girl with CD and saddle nose deformity, alar collapse and palatal perforation as extraintestinal manifestations of the disease in addition to persistent truncus arteriosus-type 4.