Advances in research on treat-to-target approach in ulcerative colitis / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, progressive and heterogeneous inflammatory bowel disease. Strategies for management of UC are shifting from simple control of symptoms toward clinical/patient-reported outcome remission (resolution of rectal bleeding and diarrhea/altered bowel habit) and endoscopic remission (mucosal healing), with the final aim of blocking the progression of the disease and promising better long-term outcomes. The therapeutic target for UC is a comprehensive one that combines subjective and objective goals as well as short-term and long-term goals. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to assess the severity of the disease first and predict the risk of UC progression, and then provide early intervention and individualized treatment for high-risk patients. The treatment should be timely tailored by close monitoring. Although the clinical implementation of UC treat-to-target (T2T) approach remains challenging, T2T strategy is the key-point for improving the quality of disease management.