Magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) and Clermont score are highly and equally effective MRI indices in detecting mucosal healing in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) and Clermont score are currently the two main MRI indices that have been validated compared to endoscopy in Crohn's disease (CD). AIMS To compare the accuracy of MaRIA and Clermont score in assessing CD mucosal healing. METHODS Fourty-four CD patients underwent prospectively and consecutively MRI and colonoscopy. RESULTS Considering 207 segments, MaRIA>7 and Clermont score>8.4 demonstrated substantial accuracy to detect endoscopic ulcerations (73.9% and 74.0%, respectively) and presented with high specificity (82.1% and 81.3%) and high negative predictive value (NPV) (82.1% and 82.4%) for MaRIA and Clermont score, respectively. The sensitivity for detecting deep ulcerations was 90.9% for both MaRIA>11 and Clermont score>12.5, with a specificity of 82.0% and 80.0%, respectively. Among 44 patients, deep MRI remission predicted mucosal healing with specificity=85.3% and NPV=85.3% according to Barcelona criteria (no segmental MaRIA>7), and specificity=88.2% and NPV=85.7% according to Clermont criteria (no segmental Clermont score>8.4). In addition, MRI remission predicted mucosal healing with specificity=76.5% and NPV=86.7% according to Barcelona criteria (no segmental MaRIA>11), and specificity=79.4% and NPV=84.4% according to Clermont criteria (no segmental Clermont score>12.5). CONCLUSION MaRIA and Clermont score are equally effective in detecting CD endoscopic ulcerations supporting their use as therapeutic endpoints.