A novel PillCam Crohn’s capsule score (Eliakim score) for quantification of mucosal inflammation in Crohn’s disease

Introduction: Capsule endoscopy is an important modality for monitoring of Crohn’s disease. Recently, a novel panenteric capsule, PillCam Crohn’s (Medtronic, USA), was approved for use. No quantitative index of inflammation for this method is currently available. This sub-study of a prospective randomized controlled Comprehensive individUalized pRoactive ThErapy of Crohn’s Disease trial (CURE-CD) which aimed to compare the correlation and reliability of the novel PillCam Crohn’s score with the existing small bowel capsule Lewis inflammatory score. Methods: The study cohort included Crohn’s disease patients in remission who were evaluated with PillCam Crohn’s. Each result was independently reviewed by two experienced readers. Inflammation was scored in all studies using Lewis inflammatory score and PillCam Crohn’s score (comprised of a sum of scores for most common and most severe lesions multiplied by percentage of segmental involvement + stricture score). Results: Fifty-four PillCam Crohn’s studies from 41 patients were included. The median Lewis inflammatory score was 225 for both readers. The median PillCam Crohn’s score was six (0–14) and four (3–15) for readers 1 and 2, respectively. There was a high inter-rater reliability coefficient between the two readers for Lewis inflammatory and PillCam Crohn’s score (0.9, p < 0.0001 for both). The correlation between PillCam Crohn’s score and fecal calprotectin was stronger than for Lewis inflammatory score (r = 0.32 and 0.54 respectively, p = 0.001 for both). Conclusions: The novel panenteric capsule score correlates well with the Lewis inflammatory score, has excellent reliability, and may be potentially more accurate in estimation of the panenteric inflammatory burden.