Abstract
Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as cyclosporine A (CSA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are often used as a second-line drug for steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic factors for early colectomy. A total of 85 hospitalized patients with UC (CSA, 50 patients; FK506, 35 patients) were enrolled. Colectomy carried out within 60 days of starting CNI therapy was defined as 'early colectomy'. To assess the prognostic factors affecting early colectomy, clinical practical variables, including the Onodera-prognostic nutritional index (O-PNI): 10xAlb+0.005× (total lymphocyte count), were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the significant factors predicting early colectomy were i) disease severity, ii) immunomodulator-naïve history, iii) lower serum hematocrit, iv) lower serum albumin and v) lower O-PNI. In addition, the significant factors predicting overall colectomy were as follows: i) C7-HRP positivity and ii) >10,000 mg of prednisolone used prior to the initiation of CNI treatment. The combination of hematocrit and O-PNI enhanced the prediction of early colectomy. Clinical variables such as hematocrit and O-PNI were the significant factors predicting colectomy. These results may be used as a guide to predict the outcome of patients with UC in clinical settings.