Haruhiko Ogata

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a novel biomarker for Crohn's disease (CD). The utility of combination use of LRG and C-reactive protein (CRP) has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of LRG in combination with CRP to predict endoscopic activity. METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients with CD who had serum LRG concentrations measured at least once between June 2020 and May 2021 were enrolled. Clinical activity was evaluated with the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) was used to analyse the correlations between the HBI, LRG concentrations and CRP concentrations. In patients undergoing ileocolonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy within 60 days before or after LRG measurement, endoscopic activity was evaluated with the simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD). The diagnostic performance of LRG and CRP for endoscopic activity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-nine measurements in 343 patients were analysed. Although a strong correlation was found between LRG and CRP concentrations (rs = 0.75), the HBI did not well correlate with LRG or CRP concentrations. Endoscopic activity was analysed in 56 patients. In diagnosing endoscopically moderate to severe activity (SES-CD > 6), the area under the ROC curve of LRG was greater than that of CRP (0.74 vs. 0.63; p = .037). The optimal cut-off value estimated by Youden's index was 15.5 µg/mL for LRG, and 0.13 mg/dL for CRP. LRG and CRP concentrations were considered positive when they were above these cut-off values, and the sensitivity and specificity for an SES-CD > 6 were 58.3% and 93.8%, respectively. Dual positivity of LRG and CRP showed the highest specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Combination use of dual positive LRG and CRP is useful for diagnosing endoscopically moderate to severe disease.

In recent years, we have seen a considerable increase in the number of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases of unknown etiology, including both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases can cause intestinal lesions throughout the gastrointestinal tract, necessitating gastrointestinal endoscopy for examining all relevant aspects, especially lesion characteristics, for differential diagnosis and histological diagnosis, to select the appropriate treatment options, determine treatment effectiveness, etc. Specific guidelines are necessary to ensure that endoscopy can be performed in a safe and more tailored and efficient manner, especially since gastrointestinal endoscopy, including enteroscopy, is a common procedure worldwide, including in Japan. Within this context, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society has formulated the “Guidelines for the Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases” to provide detailed guidelines regarding esophagogastroduodenoscopy, enteroscopy, and colonoscopy procedures for definitive diagnosis, as well as determination of treatment effectiveness in clinical cases of inflammatory bowel diseases.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Insufficient studies exist on capnography efficacy during endoscopic ultrasound or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and no definitive conclusions have been drawn. To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a novel mainstream capnography using an over-the-biteblock end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) detector in decreasing the risk of hypoxemia during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: Patients undergoing EUS or ERCP with conscious sedation at a single Japanese center were randomized to a control or a novel capnography monitored (intervention) group in a 1:1 ratio. Hypoxemia correction maneuvers were pursued if the oxygen saturation decreased to <92% in the control or intervention group and if a 15-s suspension of EtCO2 wave occurred in the intervention group. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxemic events, defined as oxygen saturation <90%, during the procedures. Secondary outcomes included technical feasibility of EUS and ERCP with the use of this novel over-the-biteblock monitor. RESULTS: In total, 250 patients were enrolled without dropouts or missing data (control group: 125; capnography group: 125). There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoxemia between the control and capnography groups (29.6% [37/125] vs. 26.4% [33/125]; p = .573). The estimated odds ratio was 0.925 (95% confidence interval: 0.708-1.208). The EtCO2 concentration was successfully captured without impeding endoscopic maneuvers from the beginning to the end of the procedure in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the novel mainstream capnography with an over-the-biteblock EtCO2 detector captures the EtCO2 concentration in EUS or ERCP under conscious sedation, it does not lead to the prevention of hypoxemia.