Quality of ulcer healing in gastrointestinal tract: Its pathophysiology and clinical relevance

Table 1 Definition and criteria of quality of ulcer healing

Definition:

QOUH represents histological maturity of healed peptic ulcer; Evaluation of QOUH should be done to assess functional and endoscopic maturity additionally to histological maturity; For a clinical use an endoscopic evaluation of maturity should be the main method

Criteria:

1: Endoscopic evaluation of maturity

Dye-contrast method, magnified endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography

2: Histological maturity

Regenerated mucosa: thickness, width, morphological abnormalities of glands, inflammatory cell infiltration

Granulation tissue: angiogenesis, fibroblasts and fibrosis, regeneration of muscularis mucosae, inflammatory cell infiltration

3: Functional evaluation of maturity

Microcirculation, production of mucin, prostanoids, growth factors, cell proliferation, receptor expression, adhesion molecules

Arakawa et al[12]. QOUH: Quality of ulcer healing.