Endoscopic healing in IBD: Still the target to achieve?

Abstract

Mucosal healing is the mainstream goal of modern treat-to-target strategy as it is associated with a significantly more favorable disease course in IBD patients with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Recent advances in endoscopic imaging technologies have overcome the traditional concept of mucosal healing assessed with conventional white light imaging, allowing for multiple levels of endoscopic healing up to the boundaries of molecular and functional evaluation. In this review, we focused on conventional and emerging strategies to assess endoscopic healing in ulcerative colitis and ileocolonic Crohn's disease, examining their pros and cons in real life practice.

Keywords: Chromoendoscopy; Confocal laser endomicroscopy; Crohn's disease; Endoscopic healing; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Molecular imaging; Mucosal healing; Ulcerative colitis.