Abstract :Background and Aims: The role of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy (SBCE) in Crohn’s Disease
(CD) is debated. We aimed to investigate, in a retrospective cohort study, whether using SBCE
allows a better assessment of Small Bowel (SB) lesions in CD. The gastric and SB transit times and
the impact rate were evaluated in CD patients vs. matched non-IBD controls (C).
Methods: All SBCE performed from June 2004 to September 2010 in CD patients referring to our
IBD Unit were reviewed. As controls, SBCE images from 40 non-IBD patients (C) matched for
gender and age (± 5 yrs) were reviewed. The Given Pillcam SB capsule (Given, Israel) was used.
Findings considered: a. CD lesions; b. Upper SB lesions; c. SBCE transit times in minutes (min); d.
Impact. Data were expressed as median [range].
Results: CD group included 40 patients (19 males. age 34 [18-70]). In CD, inter individual variations
were observed in terms of gastric (29 [3-182] min) and SB transit times (up to the valve: 258 [236-
443] min; anastomosis: 285.5 [77-480] min). Transit times showed variations in C also (gastric: 19.
[1-435] min) (p=n.s. vs. CD; SB: 268 [84-404] min; p=ns vs. CD). SBCE detected upper SB lesions
in 26/40 (65%) CD, previously undetected in 21/26 (80%). Jejunal stenosis was diagnosed in 1 CD.
SBCE retention was observed 1 CD and in no C (impact rate 2.5% vs. 0%; p=ns).
Conclusion: SBCE visualizes previously unknown upper SB lesions in a high proportion of CD
patients. The impact risk limits its use in CD. The transit times using SBCE shows wide inter
individual variations in both CD and non-IBD C.