Walmsley et al developed a simple clinical colitis activity index for evaluating a patient with ulcerative colitis. This can be used to monitor a patient over time. The authors are form the Royal Free Hospital in London and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Parameters:
(1) bowel movement frequency during the day
(2) bowel movement frequency at night
(3) urgency of defecation
(4) blood in the stool
(5) general well-being
(6) extracolonic features
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
bowel movements during day |
1 to 3 |
0 |
|
|
4 to 6 |
1 |
|
|
7 to 9 |
2 |
|
|
10 or more |
3 |
|
bowel movements at night |
none |
0 |
|
|
1 to 3 |
1 |
|
|
4 to 6 |
2 |
|
urgency of defecation |
none |
0 |
|
|
need to hurry |
1 |
|
|
need to go immediately |
2 |
|
|
incontinent |
3 |
|
blood in stool |
none |
0 |
|
|
trace |
1 |
|
|
occasionally frank |
2 |
|
|
usually frank |
3 |
|
general well-being |
very well, at or above par |
0 |
|
|
slightly below par |
1 |
|
|
poor |
2 |
|
|
very poor |
3 |
|
|
extremely poor, terrible |
4 |
|
number of extracolonic features |
|
<number> |
total activity index =
= SUM(points for all 6 paraters)
Interpretation:
• minimum index: 0
• maximum index: 20 (depends on number of extracolonic features, 15 if no extracolonic features)
• The higher the index the greater the disease activity.
Specialty: Gastroenterology
