title: [Mucosal healling: a realistic aim or marketing myth?].
abstract: The classical aim of the treatment of ulcerative colitis is to induce and maintain remission. However, this aim has not been shown to prevent long-term complications. Current treatment goals attempt to prevent complications. In some studies, healing of the intestinal mucosa has been shown to improve long-term outcomes. In ulcerative colitis, mucosal healing reduces recurrence, the risk of colorectal cancer and the need for surgery, and improves patients' quality of life. The drugs for which there is greatest evidence of their efficacy in inducing and maintaining mucosal healing are salicylates and biological agents. In the near future, endoscopic monitoring may be required to evaluate response to the treatment and decisions may have to be taken according to the persistence or disappearance of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Clínica de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, España.  vallegarciasanchez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Valle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: García-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Unidad Clínica de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, España.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iglesias-Flores
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001691:Biological Therapy; D003082:Colectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012459:Salicylates
keywords: Biological therapy; Cicatrización mucosa; Colitis ulcerosa; Mucosal healing; Salicilatos; Salicylates; Terapia biológica; Ulcerative colitis