2021
Catarina Frias-Gomes1, Catarina Nascimento1, Gonçalo Freire2, Bárbara Morão1, Joana Revés1, Luís Gargaté2, António Alberto Santos3, Luísa Glória1, Joana Torres1, Carolina Palmela1
1 Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
2 Serviço de Imagiologia, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
3 Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital da Luz, Lisboa, Portugal
Gastroentérologie – 2021-05-12 – CO –
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Introduction: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is a non-invasive tool to assess transmural inflammation (TI) in Crohn’s disease (CD). Our aim was to correlate the bowel wall thickness (BWT) evaluated by IUS and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in CD patients with active disease, before starting biologic treatment.
Methods: Prospective cohort study of CD patients who started infliximab therapy. Biochemical markers (including C-reactive protein [CRP] and faecal calprotectin [FCal]), colonoscopy, IUS and MRE were evaluated before starting infliximab treatment. The most affected segment was selected for analysis. TI was defined when BWT ≥ 3 mm. Other IUS parameters, such as lymph nodes, strictures and fistulae were also evaluated (peri-anal disease was not assessed).
Results: Overall, 21 patients were included (male gender 62%; median age 33 years [IQR 25-45]). Most patients were A2 (n=15), with ileocolic disease (n=13) and inflammatory phenotype (n=14). Fifteen patients (71%) were biologic naïve and 13 (62%) were treated with combination therapy. The most affected segment was the terminal ileum (51%, n=11). Median BWT assessed through IUS and MRE was 4.5 mm [4-6.15] and 9 mm [6.5-10], respectively. Regarding the most affected segment, a very strong correlation was observed between IUS and colonoscopy (r=0.93, p<0.001), with a strong correlation between IUS and MRE (r=0.82, p<0.001). A moderate correlation was found between IUS and MRE BWT evaluation (r=0.60, p=0.008). Lymph nodes (33% vs 14%, p=0.51) and strictures detection (10% vs 29%, p=0.50) were not different between the two examinations, whereas fistulae were more frequently detected by IUS (25% vs 9.5%, p=0.048). A trend towards a moderate correlation between FCal and IUS was observed (r=0.41, p=0.06), while no correlation was found between CRP and IUS (r=0.25, p=0.26).
Conclusion: IUS and MRE showed a good correlation in transmural inflammation evaluation (defined by BWT) in Crohn’s disease, suggesting that IUS is an accurate 1st line tool to assess these patients in clinical practice.