Background. The purpose of study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of
capsule endoscopy for
NSAID-induced enteropathy and clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic characteristics of disease in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. 37
rheumatoid arthritis patients (30 women; mean age 55) treated with
NSAIDs (>1 month), presented with anaemia and/or positive faecal occult blood testing, entered the study and underwent
capsule endoscopy (EndoCapsule; Olympus), laboratory tests, and filled in questionnaires. Results. The prevalence of
NSAID-induced enteropathy diagnosed by
capsule endoscopy was 68% (25/37), classified as mild (red spots or erosions) in 18 (49%), moderate (10-20 erosions) in 4 (11%), and severe enteropathy (>20 erosions or
ulcers) in 3 (8%) patients. We did not find statistically significant relationship between the enteropathy and gender, age, haemoglobin, leukocytes,
albumin and CRP, or
dyspepsia. The difference between subgroups of
NSAIDs according to the COX specificity was not statistically significant. Conclusions.
Capsule endoscopy is a highly accurate noninvasive method for evaluation of
NSAID-induced enteropathy. It was revealed in a substantial section of the patients with
rheumatoid arthritis and occult gastrointestinal
bleeding, mostly classified as mild damage. No simple clinical or
laboratory markers of the presence or severity of
NSAID-induced enteropathy were recognised. This trial is registered with DRKS00004940.