Correlation of Rectal Bowel Wall Thickness Using Intestinal Ultrasound with Clinical and Laboratory Indices in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Abstract

Background: The inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, idiopathic; debilitating disease that usually affects people in their 30s to 40s, characterized by intermittent recurring mucosal inflammation, originating in the rectum, and extending to the proximal areas of the colon. It has been noted that intestinal ultrasonography (IUS) is a reliable diagnostic tool for UC and can be used to assess the severity, activity, and extent of inflammation.Objectives: The objective of the work was to evaluate the role of IUS BWT in the assessment of the severity of UC.Patients and methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with UC were assessed clinically by the simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI), lab markers CRP and fecal calprotectin (FC), and an IUS assessment for the rectal bowel wall.Results: BWT can assess the severity of UC. BWT can correlate with SCCAI (r = 0.677, p<0.001), CRP (r = 0.412, p = 0.003), and FC (r = 0.474, p = 0.001).Conclusions: IUS is reliable, safe, and non-invasive radiology in the assessment of disease severity by measuring rectal BWT. BWT was consistent with different clinical and lab indices.