Endocytoscopic classification can be predictive for relapse in ulcerative colitis

The present study was conducted to explore the association of endocytoscopy (EC) classification with microscopic inflammatory features of ulcerative colitis (UC) and disease relapse. EC was performed for mild-to-moderate UC 32 cases from January 2010 to August 2016. EC appearance was stratified into 4 categories: EC-A, regular arrangement of round to oval pits; EC-B, irregular arrangement with/without enlarged spaces between regular pits; EC-C, deformed pits with distorted crypt lumen which are unordered in arrangement but not disrupted; and EC-D, disruptive or disappeared pits. We evaluated the association of EC classification with Mayo endoscopic subscores (MES) and the clinically active state. Microscopic features including the severity in mucosal inflammatory infiltrates the presence of crypt abscess and goblet cell depletion were assessed by an experienced pathologist who was blinded to clinical and endoscopic information. Clinical follow-up was provided for treating 22 UC patients more than 60 months after EC. There were 15 cases in EC-A, 8 in EC-B, 5 in EC-C, and 4 in EC-D. Interobserver agreement was excellent with κ value of 0.77. There were 13 patients in active disease stage, while 19 in remission. Each EC-A case was in clinically remission stage, while all the EC-C and EC-D cases were in the active stage. There were 4 and 4 EC-B cases in remission and active stage, respectively. The EC-A group consisted of 11 MES0 and 4 MES1 cases, whereas the EC-B group consisted of 2 MES0 and 6 MES1 cases. There were no cases of MES0 in the EC-C and -D groups. The EC stratification was significantly associated with pathognomonic microscopic features for UC. There were significant differences in the remission rate among the EC groups. None had relapse in the EC-A group during the follow-up period. EC stratification could be predictive for relapse in UC. Moreover, EC is reliable to assess UC specific microscopic features.