Transmural healing in ulcerative colitis patients improves long-term outcomes compared to endoscopic healing alone.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Endoscopic healing (EH) is recognized as a long-term treatment goal for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated whether transmural healing (TH) in UC as assessed by intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is associated with improved outcomes compared to EH alone.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study in a tertiary center on patients with left-sided or extensive UC on stable maintenance treatment who had EH [Mayo Endoscopic Subscore (MES) ≤1) and an IUS performed within 6 months of an endoscopy with no treatment alterations between IUS and endoscopy. TH was defined as bowel wall thickness (BWT) <3 mm. The primary outcome was relapse-free survival in patients with and without TH.

Results

A total of 61 patients (MES 0: 44.3%; MES 1: 55.7%) with

SUBMITTER: Lim CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12499911 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature