Local grading of inflammation in chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) by dynamic tissue perfusion measurement (PixelFlux-method)

Objectives: The novel method of dynamic tissue perfusion measurement in color Doppler sonographic videos was applied to sonographic inflammation grading in IBD (Crohn disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) as well as to healthy probands to evaluate the potential of the new method compared to established inflammation grading techniques. Methods: Perfusion intensity was measured by the PixelFlux-method (www.chameleon-software.de) in standardized DICOM video clips of the intestinal wall in 34 healthy subjects (5–18 years), 14 CD patients (8–16 years) and 19 UC (12–18 years) patients under defined and constant conditions. Bowel wall perfusion in CD was compared to the Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) in 12 patients. Results: Compared to healthy subjects perfusion was significantly elevated in CD (small bowel: 0.025 vs. 0.095cm/s; p