Mucosal healing and deep remission: What does it mean?

Table 1 Association between the definitions of remission and mucosal healing and actual healing rates in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with mesalazine

Author	Design	Study	Timing of endoscopy	Endoscopic index	Def. of MH	No of pat. Achieving MH
Vecchi (2001)	Mc, RCT	Mesalazine 4 g orally vs 2 + 2 g orally and enema	6 wk	Rachmilewitz	Rachmilewitz < 4	58% vs 71%
Malchow (2002)	Mc, db, RCT	Mesalazine 4 g enema vs 1 g foam	4 wk	Rachmilewitz	Rachmilewitz < 2	38% vs 37%
Mansfield (2002)	Mc, db, RCT	Balsalazide 6.75 g vs sulfasal. 3g	8 wk	4 point scale	Score of 0 = normal mucosa	27% vs 25%
Hanauer (2007) Ascend	Mc, db, RCT	Asacol 4.8 g vs 2.4 g	6 wk	Descriptive, no score	Normal endoscopic finding	25% vs 20%
Kamm (2007) MMX	Mc, db, RCT	MMX mes. 4.8 g vs 2.4 g vs placebo	8 wk	Mod. Sutherland index	Mod Sutherland index < 1	77% vs 69% vs 46%
Kruis (2009)	Mc, db, RCT	Mesalazine 3 g vs 1g x 3	8 wk	Rachmilewitz	Rachmilewitz < 4	71% vs 70%

Mc: Multicenter; db: Double-blind; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; MH: Mesalazine.