John Gásdal Karstensen et al. Confocal laser endomicroscopy: a novel method for prediction
of relapse in Crohn’s disease
In a single-center, prospective study, Karstensen et al. evaluated the potential utility
of confocal laser endomicroscopy for Crohn’s disease. They found that ileal and colorectal
fluorescein leakage, ileal microerosions, and colonic vascular alterations were significantly
more frequent in patients with endoscopically active Crohn’s disease than in those
with inactive Crohn’s disease or in control patients. Interestingly, during a 12-month
follow-up period, ileal fluorescein leakage and microerosions were significant risk
factors for relapse. They concluded that confocal laser endomicroscopy can identify
reproducible microscopic changes in the terminal ileum that are risk factors for relapse
in patients with otherwise inactive Crohn’s disease.
