Musquer, NicolasCoquenlorge, SabrinaBourreille, ArnaudAubert, PhilippeMatysiak-Budnik, Tamarades Varannes, Stanislas BruleyLauwers, Gregory Y.Neunlist, MichelCoron, Emmanuel2018-03-262013Musquer, Nicolas, Sabrina Coquenlorge, Arnaud Bourreille, Philippe Aubert, Tamara Matysiak-Budnik, Stanislas Bruley des Varannes, Gregory Lauwers, Michel Neunlist, and Emmanuel Coron. 2013. “Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: A New Method for Quantitative Analysis of Pit Structure in Healthy and Crohn’s Disease Patients.” Digestive and Liver Disease 45 (6) (June): 487–492. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2013.01.018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2013.01.018.1590-8658http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:35136018BACKGROUND: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy enables microscopic examination of the digestive mucosa. AIMS: (1) To identify and validate quantitative endomicroscopic criteria for evaluation of the colonic mucosa and (2) to compare these criteria between healthy and Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission. METHODS: Six healthy controls and ten Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission were included in this prospective study. Methylene blue-stained biopsies of the right colon and corresponding endomicroscopic images were analyzed. Major axis, minor axis, and major axis/minor axis ratio of crypt lumens were quantified. RESULTS: Quantitative assessment was performed on 21 ± 4 crypt lumens per patient. Major axis/minor axis ratio values measured with endomicroscopy or methylene blue-stained biopsies were linearly correlated (r=0.63, p=0.01). All macroscopically inflamed mucosa had values of major axis/minor axis ratio higher than the median of controls. Interestingly, 50% (3/6) of Crohn's disease patients with macroscopically normal mucosa had also a higher ratio than pooled controls. Histological analysis showed that 6/7 patients with major axis/minor axis ratio superior to 1.7 had microscopic inflammation. CONCLUSION: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy allows quantitative analysis of colonic pit structure. Endomicroscopic analysis of major axis/minor axis ratio allows the detection of microscopic residual inflammation with greater accuracy than standard endoscopy in Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission.en-UScolonic cryptCrohn's diseaseendomicroscopyJournal Article10.1016/j.dld.2013.01.018