Histological scores are poor predictors of short term outcomes in acute severe ulcerative colitis: An observational study.

Background: The role of various histologic scores in predicting outcomes in acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is unexplored.

Methods: Consecutive patients of ASUC undergoing sigmoidoscopy and histological assessment by two independent pathologists for Simplified Geboes score (SGS), Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI) and Nancy histological index (NHI)] were included. Primary outcome was the role of histology in predicting need for second-line therapy or colectomy.

Results: Of 82 patients with ASUC (mean age: 36 years, males 47.5 %), non-response to steroids was observed in 27 (32.9 %) of cases. Sixteen patients required second-line drug therapy and 8 required colectomy. There was no significant association between the need for second-line therapy or colectomy and the baseline histological scores [NHI (p = 0.61), SGS (p = 0.116) and RHI (p = 0.109)]. All three scores performed poorly to predict the need for second-line treatment or colectomy within 28 days. There was no significant association between histological scores and steroid response (NHI (p = 0.796), SGS (p = 0.57) and RHI (p = 0.941)]. All three scores had a strong positive correlation observed between each other but not with endoscopic Mayo score.

Conclusion: The three histologic scores (SGS, RHI and NHI) performed poorly in prediction of need for second-line treatment or colectomy in ASUC. Future studies should study the impact of histologic assessment on long term outcomes in ASUC.