Small bowel capsule endoscopy for management of Crohn's disease: A retrospective tertiary care centre experience

Abstract

The role of small bowel capsule endoscopy in the management of established Crohn's disease is uncertain. A retrospective study of small bowel capsule endoscopy tests performed in a referral centre from 2008 to 2011; 77 tests were performed in patients with known Crohn's disease. Six patients were excluded due to capsule test retention. Patients were classified into 4 indication groups: unexplained anaemia (G1, n = 6); discrepancy between clinical symptoms and morphology (G2, n = 25), full assessment of Crohn's disease location (G3, n = 37) and evaluation of mucosal healing (G4, n = 3). Twenty-seven (38%) patients had no lesions, 32 (45%) moderate and 12 (17%) severe lesions. Endoscopic lesions were found in 4/6 (67%) G1 patients, 11/25 (44%) G2 and 28/37 (76%) G3 (p < 0.03). Three months after endoscopy was performed, 38/71 patients experienced a change in their treatment that was significantly associated with the severity of endoscopic lesions and with test indications; in 60%, 20% and 58% of patients from G1, G2 and G3, respectively (p < 0.01). Small bowel capsule endoscopy resulted in management changes in the majority of patients with established Crohn's disease.