Background and Study Aims: Variceal bleeding is a major complication of cirrhosis, and is associated with a
20 % mortality at 6 weeks. Current international guidelines recommend that patients
with cirrhosis are screened by conventional upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy,
EGD) in order to detect esophageal varices. The recently developed PillCam ESO esophageal
capsule endoscope has been shown to be an accurate diagnostic tool in the investigation
of patients with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett’s esophagus. We compared the
PillCam ESO capsule endoscope with EGD for the detection of esophagogastric varices
and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with cirrhosis.Patients and Methods: A pilot trial was conducted at three sites. Patients with cirrhosis who were undergoing
clinically indicated EGD for screening or surveillance for esophageal varices underwent
a PillCam ESO study followed by an EGD within 48 hours. Capsule videos were assessed
by an investigator who was blinded to the patient’s medical history and EGD findings.Results: A total of 23 of the 32 enrolled patients were found to have esophageal varices at
both EGD and PillCam ESO endoscopy. In one patient PillCam ESO detected small varices
that were not seen at EGD. The overall concordance between PillCam ESO and EGD was
96.9 % for the diagnosis of esophageal varices and 90.6 % for the diagnosis of portal
hypertensive gastropathy. There were no adverse events related to PillCam ESO endoscopy.Conclusions: In a high-prevalence population, PillCam ESO may represent an accurate noninvasive
alternative to EGD for the detection of esophageal varices and portal hypertensive
gastropathy. A large-scale trial is underway to validate and expand these findings.
References
eiseng@ohsu.edu
