A new study investigates the use of capsule sponge testing as an effective triage method for patients with GERD, emphasizing its role in identifying high-risk individuals and reducing the strain on endoscopy services.
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc.Dec 1 2024 Revolutionizing GERD diagnosis: how capsule sponge testing prioritizes high-risk patients while easing the strain on endoscopy services.
GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and cancer detection GERD is a common condition characterized by chronic symptoms such as heartburn caused by gastric content regurgitation. Barrett’s esophagus, which describes changes in the lining of the lower esophagus due to chronic damage from stomach acid, is often associated with GERD. To date, Barrett’s esophagus is the only identified precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer with poor survival rates when diagnosed late.
About the study In the current prospective cohort study, researchers assess capsule sponge testing as a diagnostic triage tool for GERD patients referred for non-urgent endoscopy across 11 Scottish health boards between September 2020 and April 2023. Patients were referred from their primary care physician for evaluation of reflux symptoms without alarm features such as dysphagia or weight loss.
Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between biomarker results and pathology findings and to determine the safety and efficacy of the capsule sponge device as a triage method. Upper gastrointestinal specialists or trained nurses managed patients undergoing capsule sponge testing through clinical assessments, either virtually or in person.
Although 10 patients with negative test results eventually presented with significant pathology, including malignancies, the overall rate of missed diagnoses was low at 0.9%. Moreover, endoscopic biopsies confirmed Barrett’s esophagus in 4.2% of the cohort, thus reinforcing the utility of the capsule sponge test in prioritizing high-risk cases for endoscopy.
GERD Barrett's Esophagus Capsule Sponge Testing Endoscopy Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
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