Clinical characteristics and predictive biomarkers for ulceration in ischemic colitis: A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Biomarkers

Background:

• Ischemic colitis (IC) incidence is rising globally due to an aging population.
• Ulcerative IC is associated with worse clinical outcomes and accelerated disease progression.
• Identifying predictive biomarkers for ulceration in IC is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical characteristics associated with ulceration in ischemic colitis.
• To discover predictive biomarkers for ulceration in IC patients.
• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of potential biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 100 IC patients (January 2021-November 2024).
• Patients stratified into ulcer (n=30) and non-ulcer (n=70) groups based on endoscopic findings.
• Multivariable logistic regression and ROC analysis used to identify predictive factors.

Main Results:

• Elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and d-dimer levels were associated with ulceration in univariate analysis.
• CRP level was independently associated with ulceration (OR=1.047, P=0.026).
• CRP demonstrated predictive utility for ulceration (AUC=0.716), with an optimal cutoff of 26.6 mg/L.

Conclusions:

• C-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent predictive factor for ulceration in ischemic colitis.
• A CRP level of 26.6 mg/L or higher signifies an increased risk of ulceration in IC.
• These findings aid in risk stratification and early detection of ulcerative IC.