Abstract
Background
Optimal management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) requires the accurate assessment of disease activity. Endoscopic evaluation is considered the gold standard approach, but it is invasive. We aimed to determine the operating characteristics of the Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS), to quantify the cut off most closely correlated with clinical remission or activity and determine agreement with the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), Baron score, clinical scores and biomarkers.
Methods
136 patients were included prospectively (age: 48 (IQR38-61) years, duration 12 (4–19)years, 63 females, 53.7% extensive disease, 40.4% on biologicals) at the time of the colonoscopy. Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), Baron scores were calculated, as well as the2 item patient reported outcome (PRO), partial MAYO, Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI). CRP and faecal calprotectin (FCAL) was available in 58.1 and 33.8% of patients. 20.7% had clinical flare, treatment was escalated in 17.8% of patients. ROC analysis and K-statistics were performed and Spearman’s correlation was calculated.
Results
UCEIS was strongly associated to PRO2 SF (AUC:0.866), RBS (AUC:0.921), PRO2 combined remission (AUC:0.905), partial MAYO (AUC:0.956) and SCCAI (AUC:0.907) remission in a ROC analysis. A UCEIS of ≤3 was identified as the best cut-off to identify RBS subscore of 0, or total PRO2 remission (RBS 0 and SF ≤1), partial MAYO (≤2) and SCCAI (≤2.5) remission, while a UCEIS≥4 identified active disease frequently needing change in medical therapy. A moderate agreement was found between UCEIS and MES (K=0.451) or Baron (K=0.499) scores. Correlation between FCAL and UCEIS (coeff:0.743, p < 0.0001) was strong, while modest only with CRP (coeff:0.333, p = 0.01).
Conclusion
A UCEIS was strongly associated with clinical remission defined as PRO2, SF, RBS, partial Mayo or SCCAI with best agreement with RBS and partial Mayo remission. A UCEIS of ≤3 was identified as a cut-off for quiescent disease, while a UCEIS≥4 identified active disease, which can support clinical decision-making based on endoscopic findings. Agreement between UCEIS and FCAL was strong, while agreement with UCEIS and MES/Baron scores was moderate.
The Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity is Useful to Predict Medium- to Long-Term Prognosis in Ulcerative Colitis Patients with Clinical Remission
