[Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the level of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count as an activity index in ulcerative colitis].
BACKGROUND
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease characterized by relapsing and remitting non-infectious inflammation of the colorectal mucosa. Its heterogeneity makes assessment of the disease's activity a prerequisite for a rational choice of therapy. We aimed to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets to develop a simplified activity index of UC.


METHODS
Sixty patients with UC were included and submitted to measurements of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets, as well as sigmoidoscopy and biopsy. Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values were correlated with the reported degree of activity in the biopsy. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine differences between groups, and Pearson and Spearman rank tests were used to correlate each parameter with the degree of activity. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The patients had moderate (n = 15), severe (n = 15), and normal histology as a control group (n = 15). Thirty-four (57%) were female and 26 (43%) were male. Average age was 26 +/- 12.8 years. Sensitivity and specificity for hemoglobin level was 51% and 100% for hematocrit, respectively, 51% and 100% for hematocrit, and 84% and 100% for platelet counts. Spearman's correlation for hemoglobin was r = -0.866 (p < 0.001), for hematocrit r = -0.864 (p < 0.001) and for platelets r = 0.928 (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Hemoglobin and hematocrit are useful to catalog the degree of activity of UC when it is severe. Platelet count may be a marker of severity at any time, due to its high sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic test.
Ibarra-Rodríguez
J Jesús
JJ
Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Santiago-Luna
Ernesto
E
Velázquez-Ramírez
Gabriela Abigail
GA
López-Ramírez
María Karina Lizbeth
MK
Fuentes-Orozco
Clotilde
C
Cortés-Flores
Ana Olivia
AO
González-Ojeda
Alejandro
A
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D006454:Hemoglobins