Research from University of Michigan in the area of ulcerative colitis published
December 8th, 2008
2008 DEC 8 -- According to recent research published in the journal Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, "Ulcerative colitis disease activity is determined by measuring symptoms and signs. Our aim was to determine which symptom domains are frequent and responsive to change in the evaluation of disease activity, which are those defined by three criteria: 1) they occur frequently during flares; 2) they improve during effective therapy for ulcerative colitis; and 3) they resolve during remission."
"Twenty-eight symptom domains, 16 from standard indices and 12 novel domains identified by ulcerative colitis patient focus groups, were evaluated. Sixty subjects with ulcerative colitis were surveyed, rating each symptom on the three criteria with a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale. Frequent and responsive symptoms were defined a priori as those whose median Visual Analogue Scale rating for all 3 criteria was significantly greater than 50. Thirteen of the 28 symptom domains were identified as both frequent in ulcerative colitis flares and responsive to changes in disease activity. Seven of these 13 symptom domains were novel symptoms derived from ulcerative colitis patient focus groups including stool mucus, tenesmus, fatigue, rapid postprandial bowel movements, and inability to differentiate liquid or gas from solid stool when rectal urgency occurs. Ten of the 16 symptom domains from standard indices were either infrequent or unresponsive to changes in disease activity. Only some of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis that are important to patients are included in standard indices, and several symptoms currently measured are not frequent or responsive to change in ulcerative colitis patients," wrote J.C. Joyce and colleagues, University of Michigan.
The researchers concluded: "Development of survey measures of these symptom domains could significantly improve the assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis."
Joyce and colleagues published their study in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (Identification of symptom domains in ulcerative colitis that occur frequently during flares and are responsive to changes in disease activity. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2008;6():69).
For additional information, contact P.D.R. Higgins, University of Michigan, Dept. of Internal Medical, Division Gastroenterology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Health and Quality of Life Outcomes is: Biomedical Central Ltd., Current Science Group, Middlesex House, 34-42 Cleveland St., London W1T 4LB, England.
Keywords: United States, Ann Arbor, Drug Development, Gastroenterology, Pharmaceuticals, Quality of Life, Therapy, Treatment, Ulcerative Colitis, University of Michigan.
This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
