Abstract
Background. Endoscopic diagnostic methods, namely ileocolonoscopy with biopsy, are the „gold standard“ in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Due to the improvement of methods for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, the use of endoscopic ultrasonography, that combines endoscopic and ultrasound diagnostic methods, has attracted widespread attention. Endoscopic ultrasonography allows examination of the mucous membrane and the underlying layers of the intestinal wall, which makes it possible to measure the thickness of the intestinal wall. Both in Russia and abroad, there are no publications on the use of endoscopic ultrasonography for ulcerative colitis in children, and that requires further research in this area.
Aim. To evaluate the possibilities of endoscopic ultrasonography in order to determine the activity of ulcerative colitis in children.
Materials and methods. The study includes 97 children with an established diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. All children underwent ileocolonoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. The UCEIS scale (Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity) was used to assess endoscopic activity. During endoscopic ultrasonography, the thickness of the intestinal wall and blood flow were evaluated using the color Doppler mapping mode.
Results. According to the study, there was a statistically significant increase in the thickness of the intestinal wall amid the development of endoscopic activity. The statistically significant increase in the activity of blood flow in the intestinal wall was found.
Conclusion. Endoscopic ultrasonography is a relatively new research method with a number of functions that can be used to solve complex diagnostic problems in children with ulcerative colitis. The ability to measure the thickness of the intestinal wall and assess the severity of blood flow allows endoscopic ultrasonography to assess patients with ulcerative colitis dynamically, which makes it a promising method in primary diagnosis.