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Multicenter Study
. 2024 Dec 23;39(49):e303.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e303.

Characteristics of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis at Diagnosis in Korea: Results From a Multicenter, Registry-Based, Inception Cohort Study

Jin Gyu Lim #  1 , Ben Kang #  2 , Seak Hee Oh  3 , Eell Ryoo  4 , Yu Bin Kim  5 , Yon Ho Choe  6 , Yeoun Joo Lee  7 , Minsoo Shin  8 , Hye Ran Yang  9 , Soon Chul Kim  10 , Yoo Min Lee  11 , Hong Koh  12 , Ji Sook Park  13 , So Yoon Choi  14 , Su Jin Jeong  15 , Yoon Lee  16 , Ju Young Chang  17 , Tae Hyeong Kim  18 , Jung Ok Shim  19 , Jin Soo Moon  20
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Characteristics of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis at Diagnosis in Korea: Results From a Multicenter, Registry-Based, Inception Cohort Study

Jin Gyu Lim et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate the characteristics of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) at diagnosis in Korea.

Methods: This was a multicenter, registry-based, inception cohort study conducted in Korea between 2021 and 2023. Children and adolescents newly diagnosed with UC < 18 years were included. Baseline clinicodemographics, results from laboratory, endoscopic exams, and Paris classification factors were collected, and associations between factors at diagnosis were investigated.

Results: A total 205 patients with UC were included. Male-to-female ratio was 1.59:1, and the median age at diagnosis was 14.7 years (interquartile range 11.9-16.2). Disease extent of E1 comprised 12.2% (25/205), E2 24.9% (51/205), E3 11.2% (23/205), and E4 51.7% (106/205) of the patients. S1 comprised 13.7% (28/205) of the patients. The proportion of patients with a disease severity of S1 was significantly higher in patients with E4 compared to the other groups (E1: 0% vs. E2: 2% vs. E3: 0% vs. E4: 24.5%, P < 0.001). Significant differences between disease extent groups were also observed in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (median 25 vs. 35 vs. 40 vs. 45, respectively, P < 0.001), hemoglobin (median 13.5 vs. 13.2 vs. 11.6 vs. 11.4 g/dL, respectively, P < 0.001), platelet count (median 301 vs. 324 vs. 372 vs. 377 × 10³/μL, respectively, P = 0.001), C-reactive protein (median 0.05 vs. 0.10 vs. 0.17 vs. 0.38 mg/dL, respectively, P < 0.001), and Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (median 4 vs. 4 vs. 4 vs. 5, respectively, P = 0.006). No significant differences were observed in factors between groups divided according to sex and diagnosis age.

Conclusion: This study represents the largest multicenter pediatric inflammatory bowel disease cohort in Korea. Disease severity was associated with disease extent in pediatric patients with UC at diagnosis.

Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0008723.

Keywords: Child; Korea; Ulcerative Colitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Significantly different factors according to disease extent. (A) PUCAI, (B) Hemoglobin, (C) CRP, and (D) UCEIS.
PUCAI = Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, CRP = C-reactive protein, UCEIS = Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Significantly different factors according to disease severity. (A) PUCAI, (B) Hemoglobin, (C) CRP, and (D) UCEIS.
PUCAI = Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, CRP = C-reactive protein, UCEIS = Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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