Povezanost kliničkih, laboratorijskih i termografskih nalaza u bolesnika s ulceroznim kolitisom [Association between clinical, laboratory and thermographic findings in patients with ulcerative colitis]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this paper was to describe the diagnostic potential of thermography in surveillance and as a noninvasive biomarker of disease activity in patients with extensive ulcerative colitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 patients with active extensive colitis and 30 healthy subjects where enrolled in the study. Patients where prospectively followed and treated for 6 months. All of the participants where subject to infrared thermography at enrollment but UC patients were screened once more after 6 months. Thermographic criteria (Tsred ROI 1 – 4) where compared among the two groups of participants but also compared to standard clinical, laboratory and endoscopic markers of disease activity. RESULTS: higher temperatures were observed among patients with active ulcerative colitis compared to healthy subjects as well as in patients with active disease compared to those in remission after 6 months. Statistically significant correlation was observed between average abdominal temperatures and clinical (Mayo score), laboratory (FC, CRP) and endoscopic findings (Mayo ESS) in patients with ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION: This paper depicts static abdominal thermography as a potential noninvasive tool for screening and surveillance of patients with extensive ulcerative colitis