Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ulcerative colitis that shows rectal sparing at initial diagnosis

Figure 1 Colonoscopy at initial diagnosis. A: On descending and sigmoid colon, continuous and symmetric micro-erosive inflammation with friability was noted; B: At distal sigmoid colon, transitional zone was noted (arrow); C: On the rectum, normal transparent mucosa with visible vascularity was noted; D: At retroflexion view, there was no evidence of mucosal inflammation.

Figure 2 Hematoxylin and eosin stain. A: Rectum: No architectural distortion or neutrophilic inflammation; B: Sigmoid colon: Crypt abscess, crypt distortion, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in lamina propria (hematoxylin and eosin stain × 100).

Figure 3 Cumulative rate of corticosteroids use in rectal sparing group (n = 24) vs control group (n = 72). UC: Ulcerative colitis.