Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in assessing induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Thirty-two patients (12 with severe colitis and 20 with moderate colitis) were analyzed. Disease activity was assessed using the Mayo endoscopic score (MES) obtained via colonoscopy. Ultrasound (US) grade and bowel wall thickness (BWT) before induction therapy were compared in terms of MES. Changes in US grade and BWT from pre-treatment to clinical improvement were analyzed at the most inflamed segments, oral side, and anal side. RESULTS: A correlation coefficient of 0.58 (p < 0.01) indicated a strong correlation between US grade and MES. US grade and BWT decreased at the most inflamed segments, oral side, and anal side for clinical improvement in all cases (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). However, changes in US grade were significantly greater on the oral side than the most inflamed segments or the anal side (p = 0.008 and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: IUS is an effective method for assessing the efficacy of induction therapy for active UC. The assessment should be performed at the proximal part of the colon, rather than solely at the site of the most pronounced inflammation.