(Re)Appraising Remission in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

As the therapeutic targets in ulcerative colitis (UC) shift from control of symptoms to mucosal healing and prevention of disease complications like disability, colectomy, and cancer, the definition of remission has evolved. The current definition of clinical remission is variable and is determined by the clinical context in which it is being used. This results in skepticism and uncertainty about the true meaning of the term "clinical remission." In this review, the authors reexamine the definition of clinical remission and propose a novel approach to define remission in UC.

Keywords: Clinical remission; endoscopic remission; inflammatory bowel disease; mucosal healing; treatment goals; ulcerative colitis.