Non-Invasive Monitoring Bowel Ultrasound in Paediatric IBD (NIMBUS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To examine the feasibility of Non-invasive Monitoring with Bowel Ultrasound in Paediatric Inflammatory bowel disease and correlation with inflammatory markers, disease activity scores and as a predictor of changes in treatment (NIMBUS Study)
IRAS ID
321870
Contact name
Martin Edwards
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rapidly increasing in children and national guidance recommends close monitoring of gut inflammation; to control symptoms and prevent complications. Current strategies involve endoscopy and colonoscopy and/or MRI scans. These tests are expensive, often require general anaesthetics, and have long waiting lists. Often "bowel prep" with laxatives is needed, which can be distressing for the child and, along with the need for hospital admission, can lead to missed school and disruption.
Studies in gastroenterology are exploring ultrasound scans for monitoring gut inflammation. Ultrasound is cheap, quick, accurate, and can be done routinely. It is used in adult patients with IBD, however little work has been done in children, including how scans relate to existing methods of monitoring (i.e. blood and stool samples) and if scans might predict treatment course.
To examine this in this population we aim to perform 50 ultrasound studies in children with IBD either when attending the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales for routine appointments (clinics, infusions of medicines, endoscopy) or when admitted with flare of their disease. The targeted ultrasound scan results will be interpreted alongside the current standard of care, including blood and stool results, taken as part of routine clinical care. We will review the clinical notes at twelve months after scan. Each patient will undergo one bowel ultrasound scan, lasting around fifteen minutes. The clinical team will not be made aware of the results of these scans, unless the trained consultant radiologist performing that scan deems that there is a clinical need to inform the gastroenterology team to ensure patient safety.
50 children with a diagnosis of IBD would be eligible for this study. Patients without IBD, who have undergone bowel resection or those part of families unable to give informed consent will be excluded.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
23/WA/0028
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion