New insights into the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease using capsule endoscopy

Abstract

We investigated gastrointestinal graft-versus-host-disease using capsule endoscopy in patients with abdominal pain and/or diarrhea. We found severe pathology involving most of the gut including loss of villi, ulcerations, narrowing, bleeding and fistula formation. In 2 patients, capsule endoscopy alone established the diagnosis of graft-versus-host-disease. Some ulcerations were associated with cytomegalovirus infection.