Assessment of Intestinal Inflammation by Infrared Thermography in Pediatric Crohn Disease

Assessment of Intestinal Inflammation by Infrared Thermography in Pediatric Crohn Disease

The assessment of digestive inflammation and disease activity in paediatrics Crohn's disease (CD) is currently based on anamnestic, clinical and paraclinical elements such as the paediatric CD activity index (wPCDAI) , faecal calprotectin measuring or digestive endoscopy. Infrared thermal imaging is based on capturing electromagnetic waves, on a specific Wavelength, emitted by the human body surface and representing local thermic-metabolic activity. It concern metabolic activity in digestive inflammations. Infrared imaging is a non-invasive, contactless, stressless technique that assess the variations in skin surface temperature of the patient's entire abdomen or more targeted areas in a single photography. This technique would be useful for determination of Crohn's disease activity, inflammation's degree and partial mapping of inflammatory lesions.

In a specific room with a patient lying, the investigators will determine the abdominal infrared radiation with a FLIR® thermal camera. This will be correlated with the measurement of the faecal calprotectin concentration and the composite CD activity index wPCDAI.

All measurements will be performed during the standard follow-up of Crohn disease. No additional follow will be necessary.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with CD according to the Porto criteria [6]
• Aged from 4 years to 17 years-old
• Follow-up at the Amiens Picardie University Hospital (CHU Amiens Picardie)
• Child's affirmative agreement and assent and permission of their parents to participate in research

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent abdominal surgery
• Other Inflammatory bowel disease