Assessment of Disease Activity in Ulcerative Colitis Using Indium-111-Labelled Leukocyte Faecal Excretion

Abstract

A new method of assessing disease activity in ulcerative colitis has been developed utilizing indium-111-labelled granulocytes. Faecal ¹¹¹In excretion after intravenous administration of labelled granulocytes ranged from 1.1% to 45% of the injected dose in patients with ulcerative colitis, showing significant differences between mild, moderate, and severely active groups. There was a significant correlation between faecal ¹¹¹In excretion and a clinical index based on the Crohn's disease activity index (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). Quantitative faecal ¹¹¹In-labelled granulocyte excretion is an objective and specific method of assessing disease activity in ulcerative colitis.

Key words:

• Faecal excretion
• indium-111
• leukocyte
• ulcerative colitis