Role of Capsule Endoscopy in Suspected Celiac Disease Patients with Positive Celiac Serology

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 499 - 505
• Main Authors: Lidums, Ilmars, Cummins, Adrian G, Teo, Edward
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.02.2011; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Capsule Endoscopy - methods; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Diagnosis; Digestive system. Abdomen; Duodenum - pathology; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatology; Histochemistry; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Medical screening; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nuclear polyhedrosis virus; Oncology; Original Article; Other diseases. Semiology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Transplant Surgery; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Viral antibodies; Young Adult; Celiac disease; Capsule endoscopy; Celiac serology; Immunopathology; Intestinal malabsorption; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Metabolic diseases; Serology; Coeliac disease
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-010-1290-6

Background Endomysial antibody (EMA) and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody testing is used to screen subjects with suspected celiac disease. However, the traditional gold standard for the diagnosis of celiac disease is histopathology of the small bowel. As villous atrophy may be patchy, duodenal biopsies could potentially miss the abnormalities. Capsule endoscopy can obtain images of the whole small intestine and may be useful in the early diagnosis of celiac disease. Aims To evaluate suspected celiac disease patients who have positive celiac serology and normal duodenal histology and to determine, with capsule endoscopy, whether these patients have any endoscopic markers of celiac disease. Methods Twenty-two subjects with positive celiac serology (EMA or tTG) were prospectively evaluated. Eight of the subjects had normal duodenal histology and 14 had duodenal histology consistent with celiac disease. All subjects underwent capsule endoscopy. Endoscopic markers of villous atrophy such as loss of mucosal folds, scalloping, mosaic pattern, and visible vessels were assessed. Results Eight subjects with normal duodenal histology had normal capsule endoscopy findings. In the 14 subjects with duodenal histology that was consistent with celiac disease, 13 had celiac disease changes seen at capsule endoscopy. One subject with normal capsule endoscopy findings showed Marsh IIIc on duodenal histology. Using duodenal histology as the gold standard, capsule endoscopy had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, and NPV of 89% in recognizing villous atrophy. Conclusions Capsule endoscopy is useful in the detection of villous abnormalities in untreated celiac disease. Patients with positive celiac serology (EMA or tTG) and normal duodenal histology are unlikely to have capsule endoscopy markers of villous atrophy.