Artificial Intelligence Helps Predict Ulcerative Colitis Flare-ups, Prognosis

Iacucci and her colleagues recruited patients from 11 international centers between September 2016 and November 2019. Eligible participants had a confirmed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis for at least one year without regard to disease activity and an indication for a colonoscopy. At least two tissue samples were obtained from the rectum and the sigmoid because they are common areas representative of healing and inflammation. The endoscopic exam was recorded in the same area. Clinical outcomes used as proxies for disease flare-ups for the purpose of prognosis assessment included ulcerative colitis-related hospitalizations or surgery and increase in initiation of or changes in ulcerative colitis treatments, such as immunomodulators, biologics, or steroids, due to worsening symptoms.