Noninvasive monitoring with bowel ultrasound (NIMBUS) in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: Feasibility in a single centre

Bibliographic Details
Title: Noninvasive monitoring with bowel ultrasound (NIMBUS) in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: Feasibility in a single centre
Authors: Zachary Green, Christopher Towriss, James J. Ashton, R. Mark Beattie, Alison Evans, Amar Wahid, Martin Edwards
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 81:1014-1023
Publisher Information: Wiley, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Description: ObjectivesBowel ultrasound (BUS) is increasingly utilised for monitoring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition with stringent treatment targets to prevent complications. This study assessed the feasibility of BUS in paediatric IBD and its correlation with established monitoring markers.MethodsA prospective study was conducted at a specialist paediatric IBD centre, including children aged 2–18 years with IBD diagnosed via modified Porto criteria. BUS parameters were based on paediatric ultrasound scoring systems, with imaging performed by a single paediatric radiologist. Biomarker data (faecal calprotectin, C‐Reactive Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, White Cell Count, Ferritin and Albumin), and paediatric disease activity indices were recorded at time of BUS and again after a median follow‐up of 2.8 months (interquartile range 1.8–4.1). Treatment changes were recorded, and ultrasound findings were correlated with clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers.ResultsForty patients were included, 27 with ulcerative colitis (UC) or UC‐type IBD‐unclassified. BUS was feasible, with 98% retention (n = 39) and 96.5% measurable parameters (301/312). Poor‐quality imaging occurred in 10.3%. In UC, bowel wall thickness (BWT, rho = 0.503, p = 0.039) and loss of haustration (rho = 0.490, p = 0.039) correlated with faecal calprotectin; no correlations were found for Crohn's disease or the total cohort. Activity index scores did not correlate with BUS parameters.ConclusionsBUS shows potential as a noninvasive tool for assessing IBD activity in paediatric patients, especially in colitis where BWT correlates with calprotectin. However, image acquisition challenges highlight the need for expertise. Further studies across diverse cohorts are necessary to establish BUS's utility in paediatric IBD monitoring.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov (21/12/2022): NCT05673278, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05673278, IRAS ID: 8497/OCT/2022, Date of first enrolment: 01/05/2023.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 1536-4801
0277-2116
DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.70159
Rights: CC BY NC ND
Accession Number: edsair.doi...........3ea68de377e4902f5d2cba7b80b4ab37
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
ISSN:15364801
02772116
DOI:10.1002/jpn3.70159