Background: Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is a very important tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of Crohn's disease (CD). The Lewis score (LS) and Capsule Endoscopy Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CECDAI) are used to quantify and standardize inflammatory activity observed in the SBCE. Aim: To evaluate the correlation between the LS and CECDAI scores and inflammation biomarkers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]). A secondary goal was to define thresholds for CECDAI based on thresholds already established for LS. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 110 patients with suspect or known CD, with involvement of small bowel. Linear regression was used to calculate thresholds of CECDAI corresponding to the thresholds already established for LS. A Pearson correlation (r) was used to calculate the correlation between the LS and CECDAI scores and biomarker levels. Only patients with exclusive involvement of the small bowel were selected (n = 78). Results: A moderate correlation was found between the endoscopic scores (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). CECDAI scores of 5.57 and 7.53 corresponded to scores of 135 and 790 in LS, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between CRP and the LS (r = 0.28, p = 0.014) and CECDAI (r = 0.29, p = 0.009). There was also a significant correlation between ESR and CECDAI (r = 0.29, p = 0.019), but not with LS. Conclusion: There is a moderate correlation between the two scores. This study allowed the calculation of thresholds for CECDAI based on those defined for LS. We found a weak correlation between SBCE endoscopic activity and inflammatory biomarkers.

RESUMO CONTEXTO A hemorragia do intestino delgado é uma das principais indicações para a realização de enteroscopia por cápsula. A ferramenta "Suspected Blood Indicator (SBI)", incluída no software de leitura da enteroscopia por cápsula, tem como objetivo a deteção automática de hemorragia e de lesões potentialmente hemorrágicas. OBJETIVO Pretendemos avaliar a acuidade diagnóstica do SBI para a deteção de hemorragia ou lesões potencialmente hemorrágicas durante a enteroscopia por cápsula no contexto de hemorragia do intestino delgado. MÉTODOS Estudo retrospectivo incluindo 281 enteroscopia por cápsula (PillCam SB2(r)) consecutivas realizadas por hemorragia do intestino delgado durante 6 anos. Os investigadores registaram lesões com potential hemorrágico elevado (P2), como angiectasias, úlceras e neoplasias, assim como hemorragia activa. Todos os exames foram revistos independentemente por outro investigador, utilizando o SBI. RESULTADOS Dos 281 doentes, 29 (10,3%) apresentaram hemorragia ativa, enquanto 81 (28,9%) apresentaram uma lesão P2. As lesões P2 mais frequentes foram angiectasias (52), úlceras (15), póipos (7) e neoplasias ulceradas (7). O SBI demonstrou uma sensibilidade de 96,6% (28/29) para hemorragia activa, com um valor preditivo negativo de 97,7%. Para as lesões P2, a sensibilidade global foi de 39%: 100% para neoplasias ulceradas, 38,5% para angiectasias e 20% para úlceras. CONCLUSÃO Apesar da sensibilidade do SBI para lesões potencialmente hemorrágicas do instestino delgado ser baixa, permitiu a deteção de hemorragia activa com uma muito elevada sensibilidade e excelente valor preditivo negativo.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Small bowel bleeding is a leading indication for small bowel capsule endoscopy. The Suspected Blood Indicator (SBI) is a software feature directed to automatically detect bleeding lesions during small bowel capsule endoscopy. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess SBI diagnostic accuracy for small bowel haemorrhage or potentially bleeding lesions during small bowel capsule endoscopy for small bowel bleeding. Methods - Single-centre retrospective study including 281 consecutive small bowel capsule endoscopy performed for small bowel bleeding during 6 years. The investigators marked lesions with high bleeding potential (P2), such as angioectasias, ulcers and tumours, as well as active bleeding during regular small bowel capsule endoscopy viewing with PillCam SB2(r). All small bowel capsule endoscopy were independently reviewed by another central reader using SBI. RESULTS Among the 281 patients, 29 (10.3%) presented with active haemorrhage while 81 (28.9%) presented with a P2 lesion. The most frequently observed P2 lesions were angioectasias (52), ulcers (15), polyps (7) and ulcerated neoplasias (7). SBI showed a 96.6% (28/29) sensitivity for active small bowel bleeding, with a 97.7% negative predictive value. Regarding P2 lesions, the SBI displayed an overall sensitivity of 39.5%, being highest for ulcerated neoplasias (100%), but significantly lower for angioectasias (38.5%) or ulcers (20.0%). CONCLUSION Although SBI sensitivity for the automatic detection of potentially bleeding lesions was low, it effectively detected active small bowel bleeding with very high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) has a recognized phenotypic heterogeneity. Some studies suggest that age at diagnosis may influence features and natural history of the disease. Aim: This study aimed to compare patients', disease's and treatment's features between Portuguese patients diagnosed before and after the age of 40-years-old. Methods: Retrospective single-center study that included 310 patients with UC, divided in two groups: Those diagnosed before the age of 40-years-old (early onset UC) and those diagnosed later than that (late onset UC). In each group features of the patients (gender, family history, smoking), of the disease (duration, extension, severity, clinical course, hospitalization, extraintestinal manifestations), and of treatment (oral aminosalicylates, systemic steroids or immunomodulators) were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSSv22.0. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess factors associated with early and late onset UC. Results: From the analyzed patients, 207 had UC diagnosed before the age of 40 years old (43.5% men; mean age at diagnosis 29.4 ± 6.9 years) and 103 were diagnosed after that age (61.2% men; mean age at diagnosis 51.8 ± 8.1 years). In the group diagnosed before 40 years old, female gender (p = 0.003), severe disease (p = 0.002), chronic intermittent clinical course (p = 0.026), and hospitalizations (p = 0.001) were significantly more frequent. The use of oral aminosalicylates (p = 0.032), systemic steroids (p = 0.003) and immunomodulators (p = 0.012) were also more common in the early onset UC group. No differences between groups were found in family history, smoking, disease's extension, extraintestinal manifestations, and use of biological agents. Multivariate analysis pointed early onset UC to be significantly associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.91; p = 0.024), chronic intermittent symptoms (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.17-4.70; p = 0.016), and need of hospitalization (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.46-5.72; p = 0.002). Conclusions: When diagnosed before the age of 40-years-old, UC preferably affects women and manifests as a more severe disease, with more frequent hospitalizations and chronic intermittent symptoms. These facts might have implications in planning timely and individualized future therapeutic strategies.