Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. May 26, 2022; 10(15): 4818-4826
Published online May 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i15.4818
Endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of condition and prognosis of ulcerative colitis
Rui-Fang Jin, Yi-Man Chen, Ren-Pin Chen, Hua-Jun Ye
Rui-Fang Jin, Yi-Man Chen, Ren-Pin Chen, Hua-Jun Ye, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Jin RF and Ye HJ designed this retrospective study; Jin RF wrote the manuscript; Jin RF, Chen YM, Chen PP and Ye HJ sorted the data; all author read and confirmed the revised manuscript.
Supported by Wenzhou Science and Technology Bureau, No. Y2020296.
Institutional review board statement: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have nothing to disclose.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hua-Jun Ye, MM, Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Shangcai Village, Nanbai Elephant Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. ye173401298@163.com
Received: January 6, 2022
Peer-review started: January 6, 2022
First decision: February 7, 2022
Revised: February 17, 2022
Accepted: March 26, 2022
Article in press: March 26, 2022
Published online: May 26, 2022
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is usually diagnosed through histopathology, enteroscopy, clinical symptoms, and physical findings; however, it is difficult to accurately evaluate disease severity.

Research motivation

In this study, the UC endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-UC scores of patients were assessed in relation to disease severity, and the correlations between UCEIS and EUS-UC scores and disease severity was also analyzed.

Research objectives

This study investigated the value of EUS in the evaluation of the severity and prognosis of ulcerative colitis.

Research methods

Patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound to investigate UC at our hospital were eligible for enrollment. A Fujinon SP701 micro ultrasonic probe, with frequency of 20 MHz and rotary scanning mode, and a Fujifilm SU-9000 ultrasonic probe with frequencies of 7.5, 10, and 12 MHz were used. Disease severity was evaluated using the Mayo scale and the modified Truelove and Witts scores. Treatments included oral mesalazine with or without corticosteroids, and intravenous infusion of infliximab. Colonoscopy was repeated 2 and 6 mo after the initiation of treatment.

Research results

The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores were higher in moderate cases than in mild cases. The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores were higher still in severe cases than in moderate cases, and the differences were statistically significant. The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores in moderate cases were higher than in mild cases. The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores in severe cases were higher than in moderate cases, and the differences were statistically significant. The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores were significantly and positively correlated with disease severity. The UCEIS and EUS-UC scores after 2 mo of treatment and after 6 mo of treatment were lower than the UCEIS and EUS-UC scores before treatment.

Research conclusions

EUS can effectively clarify the disease status of patients with ulcerative colitis, stratify the disease severity, and accurately evaluate the treatment response, to provide an objective basis for the clinical formulation or further adjustment of a patient’s treatment plan.

Research perspectives

We will study the application value of this scheme in individualized therapy.