For Immediate Release
December 10, 2007 at 5:00 pm

BUFFALO, NY – Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is a useful tool in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) graft vs. host disease (GvHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT), according to study to be presented by researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) at the 49^th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology, December 10, at 5:00 pm*, in the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.

GvHD of the GI tract is difficult to diagnose in its early stages or if only the small intestine is involved. WCE is a new, non-invasive technology that in most cases allows for complete evaluation of the small intestine.

WCE has been performed in 11 alloHSCT patients with GI symptoms to assist in diagnosis, assess therapy response or to evaluate other GI pathology in patients with established GI GvHD. Each capsule records 50,000 images during eight hours, and visual grading of the GI tract was determined on a five-point scale. WCE findings usually correlated with those of upper and lower GI endoscopies performed when clinically indicated, although lesions of the small intestine visualized by WCE were more severe than those seen on upper and lower GI endoscopies.

Michael Schiff, MD, and colleagues in the RPCI Department of Medicine conclude that WCE can assist in the assessment of acute and chronic GvHD of the GI tract. The procedure is well tolerated by patients and is less invasive than upper and lower GI endoscopies, making serial examinations feasible.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

 

*The presentation (Abstract 2985) will be part of a Poster Session titled “Clinical Care: Acute and Chronic GVHD, Infectious Complications, and Immune Reconstitution of Transplantation II,” Board #204-III, December 10, 5:00-7:00 pm.

 

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