Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42572012›Full record

Trial reportJournal of Crohn's & colitis2026

Characterization of remission levels in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with 5-aminosalicylates: results of the cross-sectional CARUC-ASA study by the Belgian IBD Research and Development Group.

Catherine Reenaers, Guy Lambrecht, Lieven Pouillon, Filip Baert, Anneline Cremer, Arnaud Colard, Christophe Claessens, Thomas Billiet, Jeroen Geldof, Astrid De Zutter and 8 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase IVMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of Crohn's & colitis, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Catherine ReenaersDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège University, Liège, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5490-4350
Guy LambrechtDepartment of Gastroenterology, AZ Oostende, Oostende, Belgium.
Lieven PouillonDepartment of Gastroenterology, Imelda Bonheiden, Bonheiden, Belgium.
Filip BaertDepartment of Gastroenterology, AZ Delta, Roeselare, Belgium.
Anneline CremerDepartment of Gastroenterology, HUB Erasme Bruxelles, Anderlecht, Belgium.
Arnaud ColardDepartment of Gastroenterology, CHC MontLégia Liège, Belgium.
Christophe ClaessensDepartment of Gastroenterology, AZ Turnhout, Turnhout, Belgium.
Thomas BillietDepartment of Gastroenterology, AZ Groeninge, Groeninge, Belgium.
Jeroen GeldofDepartment of Gastroenterology, Gent university, Gent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-0126-2929
Astrid De ZutterDepartment of Gastroenterology, Sint-Andriesziekenhuis, Tielt, Belgium.
Jean-François RahierDepartment of Gastroenterology, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
Michael SomersDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-1092-7128
Dries ReyndersDepartment of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Gent University, Gent, Belgium.
Laura VansteenkisteBelgian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research and Development (BIRD).
Ingrid ArijsBelgian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research and Development (BIRD).ORCID 0000-0002-9415-083X
Edouard LouisDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège University, Liège, Belgium.
Belgian IBD Research and Development Group (BIRD)
Bram VerstocktDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-3898-7093

Funding

Ferring
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) remains the first-line therapy for mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Modern treatment goals extend beyond symptom control to include steroid-free remission, endoscopic healing, and biomarker normalization. Real-world evidence on 5-ASA's ability to achieve these targets is limited. This study assessed remission levels and associated factors in Belgian UC patients in clinical remission on 5-ASA.

methodsThis cross-sectional, multicenter, phase 4 study included UC patients in clinical remission (PRO-2 ≤ 1, no rectal bleeding) treated with 5-ASA for ≥6 months. Patients receiving corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or advanced therapies were excluded. Outcomes were complete clinical remission (PRO-2 = 0, no urgency), endoscopic remission (MES ≤ 1, UCEIS ≤ 1), complete endoscopic remission (MES = 0), histological remission (Geboes 0-1), biological remission (fecal calprotectin <150 µg/g), and deep remission (clinical, endoscopic, and histological). Adherence was assessed using MARS-5.

resultsIn total, 198 patients were enrolled (median age 50 years; 41% female). Treatment was oral 5-ASA only (n = 134, 68%), rectal only (n = 19, 9%), or combination (n = 45, 23%). Biological remission was observed in 78%, endoscopic remission in 87%, complete endoscopic remission in 70%, and histological remission in 80%. Deep remission occurred in 24%, limited by persistent urgency (63%). Adherence was high (median MARS-5: 24). Oral 5-ASA only was significantly associated with endoscopic remission (P < .001).

conclusionIn this real-world Belgian cohort, patients in clinical remission on 5-ASA achieved high rates of objective remission, while deep remission was low because of persistent urgency. These findings confirm 5-ASA's continued relevance in mild-to-moderate UC and highlight the importance of addressing residual symptoms despite mucosal healing.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalColitis, UlcerativeMesalamineAdultBelgiumCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLeukocyte L1 Antigen ComplexMaleMiddle AgedRemission InductionSeverity of Illness IndexTreatment OutcomeAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalLeukocyte L1 Antigen ComplexMesalamine5-ASAdeep remissionremission statusulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID42572012
PMCPMC13453394

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.