Application of magnifying chromoscopy for the assessment of severity in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A magnifying colonoscope that enables high-power observation of the colorectal mucosa has been recently developed. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of the magnifying instrument in determining the severity of ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Magnifying colonoscopy was performed in 41 patients with ulcerative colitis, and the findings in the rectum were graded according to network pattern and cryptal openings. These findings were correlated with endoscopic, clinical, and histologic severity of the disease. RESULTS: Magnifying colonoscopy did not detect network pattern in 37% and cryptal opening in 24% of the subjects. The clinical, endoscopic, and histologic grades of activity were not different between groups divided by the presence or absence of each finding. However, when the two features were coupled, patients with visible network pattern and cryptal opening had a lower clinical activity index and lower grade of histologic inflammation than those in whom both findings could not be visualized. CONCLUSIONS: Observation under magnifying colonoscopy can be another clue to determining the severity of disease in patients with ulcerative colitis.