Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major forms of chronic intestinal disorders, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Diagnosis is based on several macroscopic and histologic features including patterns of inflammation, crypt abscesses and granulomas. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is rapidly emerging as a valuable tool for gastrointestinal endoscopic imaging, enabling the endoscopist to obtain an "optical biopsy" of the gastrointestinal mucosa during the endoscopic procedure. The main objective of this study is to determine endomicroscopic features of mucosal healing in patients with IBD.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
84
Patients will undergo advanced endoscopic imaging using endomicroscopy. Findings will be compared to histopathological and clinical results.
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Erlangen, Germany
Mucosal healing
We will determine endomicroscopic features of mucosal inflammation (e.g. goblet cell depletion, leackage, microvessel density) in IBD in order to establish a new endoscopic classification of mucosal healing.
Time frame: up to three years
Histologic correlation
Comparison of clinical and histopathological data with endoscopic findings to evaluate mucosal healing as a parameter of remission and relapse in patients with IBD.
Time frame: up to three years
Therapeutic effect
We will evaluate the effect of different therapeutic strategies (eg. anti-TNF treatment) on characteristics of mucosal healing (e.g. goblet cell depletion, microvessels, leakage).
Time frame: up to three years
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