Wireless capsule endoscopy in the investigation of patients with chronic renal failure and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (preliminary data)

Table 1 CRF patients’ characteristics

No. of patients	17
Etiology of renal failure, n (%)
Nephrosclerosis	4 (23.5)
Glomerulonephritis	3 (17.6)
Chronic pyelonephritis	1 (5.9)
Diabetic nephropathy	1 (5.9)
Other etiologies	3 (17.6)
Unknown	5 (29.4)
Duration of CRF ( mean ± SE), mo	139.9 ± 13.0
Median serum creatinine (range), mg/dL	3.2 (2.0 - 9.4)
Serum urea (mean ± SE), mg/dL	133.9 ± 11.0

Table 2 Demographic and clinical characteristics of CRF and non-CRF patients

	CRF patients	Non-CRFpatients	P
No. of patients	17	51
Male/female	12/5	36/15	NS
Age (mean ± SE), yr	57.1 ± 2.5	57.2 ± 2.1	NS
Indication of WCE (overt/occult bleeding)	11/6	33/18	NS
NSAIDs or aspirin use, n (%)	3/17 (17.6%)	14/51 (27.5%)	NS
Comorbid diseases, n (%)	10/17 (58.8%)	23/51 (45.1%)	NS
Hb (mean ± SE), g/L	84.3 ± 2.0	87.7 ± 1.3	NS
Need for previous transfusions, n (%)	6/17 (35.3%)	28/51 (54.9%)	NS

NS: Non-significant.

Table 3 Small bowel findings revealed by wireless capsule endoscopy

SB findings	CRF patientsn = 17 (%)	Non-CRF patientsn = 51 (%)
Angiodysplasia	8 (47.0)	9 (17.6)
Single ulcer	2 (11.8)	3 (5.9)
Ulceration with cobblestoning and stricture	1 (5.9)	3 (5.9)
Non-specific ulcers, erosions, submucosal bleeding, erythema and edema	1 (5.9)	-
Fresh blood without an obvious explanation	-	2 (3.9)
Tumor	-	2 (3.9)
Multiple erosions	-	2 (3.9)
No findings	5 (29.4)	30 (58.8)