title: Ultrasonographic assessment of colonic wall in moderate-severe ulcerative colitis: comparison with endoscopic findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bowel ultrasound has been shown to be a useful tool to evaluate patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn's disease. However, such data are still scarce in ulcerative colitis patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the value of bowel ultrasound in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis patients, and compare these data with endoscopic findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic, ultrasound and C-reactive protein data from 51 patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis observed during a 3-year period were retrospectively obtained and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients displayed pathological thickness (>4 mm) of the colon wall. This value strongly correlated with C-reactive protein values (p=0.0001) and the endoscopic score (p<0.0001). Also, a strong correlation (p<0.0001) was found between CRP values and endoscopic score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bowel ultrasound, in expert hands, may represent a useful adjunctive (or first line) tool for the evaluation of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villanacci
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldoni
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein