Role of Quantitative Fecal Immunochemical Test in Assessment of Mucosal Healing in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract
Background: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflam-matory disorder of the colorectum that is characterized by a remission and relapse course. Mucosal healing has been considered the goal of treatment in UC because it reduces the risk of relapse and colectomy. Fecal biomarkers have emerged as an important easy, rapid and non-invasive tool for assessing and monitoring mucosal healing in patients with UC.
Aim of the Study: To determine if the q-FIT can evaluate the mucosal healing in UC patients.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 60 UC patients who underwent colonoscopy in the Endoscopy Unit, Internal Medicine Department in Tanta University Hospital. FIT was examined in stool samples from all the patients. Mucosal status was assessed using the Mayo Endo-scopic Subscore (MES).
Data were collected from all study patients including; clinical, demographic and laboratory data. Statistical analysis was carried out for all collected data and statistical significance was determined at a p-value <0.05.
Results: A total of 60 UC patients were evaluated with FIT results in conjunction with colonoscopies. The sensitivity and specificity of the FIT values (<100ng/ml) for predicting MH (MES 0 alone) were 0.93 and 0.80, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity when MH was defined as (MES 0 or 1) were 0.75 and 0.91, respectively. A significant correlations between FIT levels and the MES was observed (r=0.858, p-value=0.001 *).
Conclusion: Quantitative FIT can be a non-invasive and effectivebiomarker for evaluation of mucosal healing in UC.