Navigating celiac disease with small bowel capsule endoscopy: current state and future horizons

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Celiac disease (CeD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals.
• Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is a noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for CeD.
• Current guidelines define SBCE's role in specific diagnostic scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current and future applications of SBCE in celiac disease management.
• To highlight SBCE's utility in assessing disease extent, mucosal healing, and complications.
• To explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence on SBCE for CeD.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and international guidelines on SBCE in CeD.
• Analysis of SBCE's role in diagnosis, monitoring, and differential diagnosis.
• Discussion of emerging technologies and sustainability aspects.

Main Results:

• SBCE provides comprehensive visualization of the small bowel for CeD assessment.
• It is indicated for inconclusive histopathology or persistent clinical suspicion.
• SBCE aids in monitoring mucosal healing and detecting complications like ulcerative jejunitis.
• AI integration is expected to enhance diagnostic accuracy and streamline CeD evaluation.
• The environmental impact and circular economy applications of SBCE are under consideration.

Conclusions:

• SBCE is an essential tool for diagnosing and monitoring celiac disease.
• Its role is expanding with technological advancements like AI.
• Future use may include routine monitoring and early detection of CeD complications.
• Sustainability of SBCE devices is an emerging area of research.