Confocal endomicroscopy and leaky gut in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Confocal endomicroscopy - an endoscopic procedure that incorporates a laser microscope on the tip of the endoscope - visualising the microscopic structure of the gut lining. The confocal laser microscope enlarges the mucosa image by 1,000-fold. The procedure is performed using standard sedation procedure. Procedure duration lasts for 15 - 30 minutes, similar to a standard colonoscopy. Inflammatory bowel disease patients requiring colonoscopy will be invited to participate. All patients will be assessed for clinical disease activity (CDAI or Mayo), biomarkers of inflammation (ESR, CRP), medical and surgical therapy. Controls will be non-IBD patients requiring colonoscopy eg for screening for family history, minor gastrointestinal symptoms where IBD is finally excluded, Fe deficiency where an alternative diagnosis is eventually made (eg menorrhagia). All subjects undergo confocal endomicroscopy.