BACKGROUND: The special features of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) enteropathy were partially clarified by single-balloon endoscopy(SBE). We aimed to investigate the characteristics of NSAIDs injuries that were differ from other ulcer diseases and efficacy of SBE compared with capsule endoscopy(CE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1,644 symptomatic patients (221 patients taking NSAIDs) hospitalized between January 2006 and March 2016 were recruited and underwent SBE and/or CE.

RESULTS: NSAIDs damages were identified in 110 patients (49.77%). The special features of NSAIDs lesions included: variform, superficial, multiple and irregular arrangement; <1 cm in diameter (67.27%); the location in jejunum and ileum was similar; ileocecal valve was rarely influenced (20.91%). The specificity and positive predictive value of SBE for diagnosing NSAIDs breaks were higher than CE (95.74% vs. 80.00%; 95.45% vs. 81.63%, p<0.05). There were no differences in the detection rate and the diagnostic accuracy rate of small bowel diseases between SBE and CE in the NSAIDs group (69.4% vs. 66.3% and 83.58% vs. 80.65%, p>0.05 respectively). The consistency in diagnosing NSAIDs breaks for the 2 methods was 82.61%. More tiny lesions at the distal ileum were detected by SBE. Four patients misdiagnosed by CE got accurate diagnose through biopsy by SBE. Three patients with active bleeding caused by NSAIDs-induced ulcers underwent hemostasis successfully by SBE.

CONCLUSIONS: NSAIDs injuries might be distinguished from other diseases by endoscopic features and biopsy through SBE, which appeared to be an effective method for diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, capsule endoscopy, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal, Intestine, Small