Keeping Crohn’s Disease in Check: Monitoring With Capsule Endoscopy

Overview

Crohn’s often hides in the mid-jejunum or ileum, regions not easily reached by colonoscopy. Capsule imaging allows gastroenterologists to locate inflammation, guide biologic therapy, and monitor mucosal healing.

Benefits Over Imaging Modalities

*Approximate relative scale for the U.S. market.

Use Cases

• Assess disease extent before initiating biologics.
• Confirm mucosal healing at six-month intervals.
• Detect post-surgical recurrence at anastomotic sites.

Safety Considerations

Strictures raise the risk of capsule retention. A dissolvable patency capsule helps confirm safe transit.

Key Takeaways

• Direct visualization trumps surrogate markers like CRP alone.
• Objective mucosal healing correlates with reduced hospitalizations.
• Non-invasive monitoring supports shared decision-making between patient and provider.