Noninvasive assessment of ulcerative colitis activity in children

Abstract

Timely diagnosis and monitoring of ulcerative colitis (UC) in children is extremely relevant. In recent years, much attention has been paid to improving noninvasive UC diagnosis methods, which are available and convenient in the practice of a doctor. In this regard, we analyzed the significance of changes in noninvasive laboratory parameters of sick children with different clinical and endoscopic UC activity. Materials and methods. A prospective analysis of data of 80 patients diagnosed with UC at the age of 1 to 18 years with varying degrees of clinical and endoscopic activity of the disease was performed. Results. Significant changes in the studied laboratory parameters’ levels were revealed depending on the degree of clinical and endoscopic UC activity in children. The changes in fecal calprotectin content, levels of albumin, hemoglobin, and platelets were particularly substantial and informative in the blood of sick children when comparing remission with moderate and high clinical and endoscopic UC activity. A decrease in platelet counts was also found when UC activity increased. Conclusion. The studied laboratory parameters are informative noninvasive markers of UC activity in children. These indices can be used in the diagnosis of UC activity and monitoring of the course of the disease.