The role of capsule endoscopy in assessing mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Assessment of mucosal inflammation is important in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has recently been shown to be effective in colorectal polyp detection. However, its role in the evaluation of mucosal inflammation in UC is unclear. This systematic review aims to clarify the state of the art with an evidence-based summary of current studies on the utility of CCE in UC. The overall results show that the accuracy of CCE for assessment of mucosal inflammation in UC appeared to be comparable with that of colonoscopy. Long-term follow-up studies with larger sample size are needed to further validate the utility of CCE in the management of UC subjects in clinical practice.

Keywords:

• accuracy
• colon capsule
• mucosal inflammation
• safety
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Assessment of mucosal inflammation is important in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

• The role of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) in the evaluation of mucosal inflammation in UC is unclear.

• In limited number of studies, the accuracy of CCE for assessment of mucosal inflammation in UC appeared to be comparable with that of colonoscopy.

• At present, CCE may serve as an alternative modality in patients who declined colonoscopy, in those who have failed colonoscopy or for the monitoring of mucosal healing.

• Long-term follow-up studies with larger sample size are needed to further validate the utility of CCE in the management of UC subjects in clinical practice.

Notes