Abstract :
Background and Aims: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is used increasingly to identify causes of obscure gastrointestinal
bleeding (OGIB). Identifying factors related to the detection of lesions by CE could improve resource
utilization and patient selection for CE examination. We aimed to identify clinical factors related to positive findings
from capsule endoscopy in OGIB.
Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 70 patients who underwent CE for overt and occult
OGIB. Clinical factors that might be associated with positive CE findings were investigated.
Results: Our results showed a highly likely bleeding lesion (P2) in 18 cases (25.7%), an uncertain potential
hemorrhagic lesion (P1) in 29 cases (41.4%), no potential bleeding lesion (P0) in 2 cases (2.9%), and negative
findings (N) in 21 cases (30.0%). In all OGIB, the numbers of blood transfusions > 2 units were found to be
significantly associated with findings in the P2 and P1 groups (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.29 - 11.01, p = 0.013). In the
overt OGIB group, the factor related to a positive finding in CE was age > 55 years (OR, 5.75; 95% CI, 1.12 - 29.41,
p = 0.041).
Conclusions: Blood transfusion > 2 units in OGIB patients was associated with a positive finding of CE.
Age > 55 years was another factor that correlated with a significant positive finding by CE.
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