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Background The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a major impact on the health of people worldwide. The clinical background and clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among Japanese patients with COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods This study is an observational cohort of Japanese IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Data on age, sex, IBD (classification, treatment, and activity), COVID-19 symptoms and severity, and treatment of COVID-19 were analyzed. Results From 72 participating facilities in Japan, 187 patients were registered from June 2020 to October 2021. The estimated incidence of COVID19 in Japanese IBD patients was 0.61%. The majority of IBD patients with COVID-19 (73%) were in clinical remission. According to the WHO classification regarding COVID-19 severity, 93% (172/184) of IBD patients had non-severe episodes, while 7% (12/184) were severe cases including serious conditions. 90.9% (165/187) of IBD patients with COVID-19 had no change in IBD disease activity. A logistic regression analysis stepwise method revealed that older age, higher body mass index (BMI), and steroid use were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity. Six of nine patients who had COVID-19 after vaccination were receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibodies. Conclusion Age, BMI and steroid use were associated with COVID-19 severity in Japanese IBD patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Small intestinal involvement in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) remains unclarified. We performed capsule endoscopy (CE) and balloon-assisted (BA) endoscopy to analyze small intestinal polyps and their genotype-phenotype correlations in a large cohort of FAP patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we performed CE in all 149 FAP patients and BA endoscopy in 74 patients with larger polyps. The prevalence of small intestinal adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and cancer was investigated. Correlation between APC variant and polyp phenotype was analyzed. RESULTS: Median patient age was 44 years and 69% were male. Pathogenic germline APC variants were found in 117/136 (86.1%). Overall prevalence and median number of small intestinal polyps were 85.2% (127/149) and 17 (IQR 6-36), respectively. A total of 5318 polyps were detected by CE and all 433 polyps histologically examined were confirmed as adenoma. The number of polyps significantly decreased from the proximal-to-distal tracts. Adenoma with high-grade dysplasia was detected in 26.2% (39/149), and its incidence among the polyps was approximately 1.4% (74/5318). Of these, 14 were intramucosal carcinomas with a prevalence of 5.4% (8/149). The germline APC variant in codon 1251-1580 was significantly correlated with a high number of small intestinal polyps. Multivariate analysis revealed APC variant in codon 1251-1580 and a high number of small intestinal polyps as independent risk factors for adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. Spigelman stage was significantly associated with number of jejunal/ileal polyps and their high-grade dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Among FAP patients, small intestinal adenoma with high-grade dysplasia was detected in 26.2% and cancer in 5.4%. FAP patients, particularly those with APC variant in codon 1251-1580 and/or high Spigelman stage may require surveillance for small intestinal polyps.

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Rationale: API2-MALT1 positive gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are considered to have favorable prognosis. We report a case of API2-MALT1 positive gastric MALT lymphoma, treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Patient concerns: A 51-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for the annual health checkup examination. Diagnoses: The EGD showed a reddish depressed lesion with small reddish spots in the lower gastric body. There was no endoscopic atrophy in the entire stomach and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) serum test was negative. Infiltration of small lymphocytes was shown in the gastric tissues obtained by the endoscopic biopsy. The fluorescence in situ hybridization using the biopsy samples confirmed the presence of genetic translocation of API2-MALT1, suggesting that the lesion is API2-MALT1 positive MALT lymphoma. Interventions: Since endoscopic ultrasound suggested that the lesion was localized within the lamina propria mucosae, we performed ESD to achieve the en bloc resection of the lesion. Outcomes: Conclusive diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma was made based on the resected specimen. Lateral and vertical margins were negative. No lymphoma cells were detected using endoscopic biopsy after 5 years. Lessons: Our report suggests that ESD can be considered as alternative treatment for API2-MALT1 positive gastric MALT lymphoma if the lesion was localized within the gastric mucosa.

Background and study aims Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) enables real-time optical biopsy. Little is known about pCLE imaging deep inside the small bowel, therefore the aim of this study was to determine its usefulness. Patients and methods Between April 2014 and January 2016, we performed 38 pCLE examinations during double-balloon enteroscopy with intravenous fluorescein in 37 patients with: tumors (n = 10), vascular disorders (n = 6), inflammatory diseases and drug injuries (n = 13), other disorders (n = 4), and normal findings (n = 4). We measured the calibers of capillary and lymphatic vessels at 15 different sites and compared the calibers between pCLE images and histopathology. We also compared pCLE findings with pathologic diagnosis. Results The inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium and in the middle of villi were 16.2 ± 3.0 µm and 14.5 ± 3.1 µm, respectively, in the pCLE images, but these were not consistent with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded histology. In tumors, larger capillary vessels were observed in aggressive malignant lymphoma and metastasis, and a “soccer ball-like pattern” constituting homogenous dark cells packed with polygonal, narrower capillary vessels was characteristic in pCLE images of a malignant lymphoma follicle. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and angiodysplasia contained anastomosis of capillary vessels of different calibers. In IgA vasculitis, segmental capillary strictures were observed. Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy contained a reticular network of lymphatic vessels and dilated lymphatic ducts accompanied by numerous cell gaps. pCLE findings corresponded to pathologic diagnosis in 32 examinations (91 %). Conclusions pCLE is useful for in vivo analysis of abnormalities of the capillary and lymphatic vessels and epithelium, and for diagnosis in various small-bowel diseases.

Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) can be used to treat disorders of the small intestine and can also be used to retrieve foreign bodies from the small intestine without surgery. We describe the findings of 22 cases in which DBE was used to try and retrieve foreign bodies from the small intestine. The foreign bodies included 12 capsule endoscopes, 3 artificial teeth, 3 medical tubes, 2 worms, 1 press-through packet of medicine, and 1 intestinal stone. The retrieval success rate was 86.3% (19/22), and there were no complications related to the retrieval procedures. Snare forceps were the most useful device for grasping the foreign bodies, and DBE was usually performed via an oral route. If an anal route is selected in cases involving stenosis of the small intestine, endoscopic balloon dilation will be necessary to reach the target. In conclusion, DBE is very useful for extracting foreign bodies from the small intestine, and the careful selection of the DBE route and the removal device are important for successfully retrieving foreign bodies.

Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) can be used to treat disorders of the small intestine and can also be used to retrieve foreign bodies from the small intestine without surgery. We describe the findings of 22 cases in which DBE was used to try and retrieve foreign bodies from the small intestine. The foreign bodies included 12 capsule endoscopes, 3 artificial teeth, 3 medical tubes, 2 worms, 1 press-through packet of medicine, and 1 intestinal stone. The retrieval success rate was 86.3% (19/22), and there were no complications related to the retrieval procedures. Snare forceps were the most useful device for grasping the foreign bodies, and DBE was usually performed via an oral route. If an anal route is selected in cases involving stenosis of the small intestine, endoscopic balloon dilation will be necessary to reach the target. In conclusion, DBE is very useful for extracting foreign bodies from the small intestine, and the careful selection of the DBE route and the removal device are important for successfully retrieving foreign bodies.

Background Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the SLCO2A1 gene and characterized by multiple small intestinal ulcers of nonspecific histology. SLCO2A1 is also a causal gene of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO). However, little is known about the clinical features of CEAS or PHO. Methods Sixty-five Japanese patients recruited by a nationwide survey of CEAS during 2012–2016 were enrolled in this present study. We reviewed the clinical information of the genetically confirmed CEAS patients. Results We identified recessive SLCO2A1 mutations at 11 sites in 46 patients. Among the 46 patients genetically confirmed as CEAS, 13 were men and 33 were women. The median age at disease onset was 16.5 years, and parental consanguinity was present in 13 patients (28%). Anemia was present in 45 patients (98%), while a single patient experienced gross hematochezia. All patients showed relatively low inflammatory markers in blood tests (median CRP 0.20 mg/dl). The most frequently involved gastrointestinal site was the ileum (98%), although no patient had mucosal injuries in the terminal ileum. Mild digital clubbing or periostosis was found in 13 patients (28%), with five male patients fulfilling the major diagnostic criteria of PHO. Conclusions The clinical features of CEAS are distinct from those of Crohn’s disease. Genetic analysis of the SLCO2A1 gene is therefore recommended in patients clinically suspected of having CEAS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00535-017-1426-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Endoscopic exploration of the small bowel after pelvic radiation has limitations related to strong abdominal adhesion. It is often difficult to demonstrate the findings of radiation enteritis endoscopically, even with video capsule endoscopy (VCE) or double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). We present our experience with three cases of radiation enteritis that were diagnosed using VCE and DBE, including their effective aspects. Radiation enteritis has not been diagnosed using conventional methods, and DBE may not accomplish deeper insertion into the ileum, although it is capable of both diagnosis and hemostasis. Therefore, VCE is thought to be the initial tool for the diagnosis of radiation enteritis when small bowel stenosis has not been previously detected and the risk of retention has been discussed.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), one of the most common forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by exacerbations and remissions. Even when conventional colonoscopy suggests remission and a normal mucosal finding, microscopic or histological abnormalities may persist, and relapse may be imminent. Confocal microendoscopy allows histological diagnosis during the endoscopic examination. High-resolution video-magnifying colonoscopy with chromoscopy enables the observation of colorectal mucosal pit patterns and prediction of the probability of subsequent disease relapse in patients in remission. Endoscopic ultrasonography provides an immediate and accurate evaluation of the health status of the colonic wall without the need to wait for histological results and provides an indication of the efficacy of treatment. These novel endoscopic techniques are useful for the evaluation of disease activity and the efficacy of treatment in patients with UC and the prediction of relapse.