Predicting the risk of rebleeding after capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding - External validation of the RHEMITT Score.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Prediction of rebleeding after small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is challenging. The recently described RHEMITT score includes 7 variables: chronic kidney disease (CKD); heart failure (HF); P1/P2 lesions (Saurin's classification); major bleeding; incomplete examination; smoking and endoscopic treatment. This tool has been shown to accurately predict the risk of recurrence after a SBCE study. The primary aim of this study was to perform an external validation of the RHEMITT score.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort-study, which consecutively included all patients submitted to SBCE (Mirocam®) for OGIB between January 2017 and December 2018. Rebleeding was defined as: (1) a drop in hemoglobin>2g/dL or (2) Melena or hematochezia. The RHEMITT score was calculated and subsequently the accuracy of the score for the prediction of rebleeding was assessed.

RESULTS

One-hundred and sixty patients were enrolled. Mean age was 65.8±13.6years and 58.1% (n=93) were female. The mean follow-up time was 20 (SD 9) months. Rebleeding occurred in 14.4% (n=23). Rebleeding at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months was 6.3%, 12.0%, 14.2% and 15.5% respectively. There was a significant association between the RHEMITT score and rebleeding (p <0.001). The area under the (AUC) ROC curve was 0.756 (p<0.001). Rebleeding occurred earlier in intermediate and high-risk patients (RHEMITT score >3) being at 6-months 13.6% and 24 months 28.4% (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present study carried out in an external validation cohort confirms the usefulness and accuracy of the RHEMITT score in predicting rebleeding after SBCE.