Ho Index — Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Predicts failure of intravenous corticosteroids in acute severe ulcerative colitis from the first 3 days of treatment (Ho 2004), to help decide early on rescue therapy or surgery.
Score interpretation
11% failed intravenous corticosteroid therapy (Ho 2004).
→ Continue intravenous corticosteroids with daily review.
43% failed intravenous corticosteroid therapy (Ho 2004).
→ Close daily review; involve gastroenterology and colorectal surgery early; reassess on day 3.
85% failed intravenous corticosteroid therapy (Ho 2004).
→ Discuss rescue therapy (infliximab or ciclosporin) or colectomy now with gastroenterology and colorectal surgery.
Interpretation bands for the Ho Index. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Ho GT, Mowat C, Goddard CJ, et al. Predicting the outcome of severe ulcerative colitis: development of a novel risk score to aid early selection of patients for second-line medical therapy or surgery. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;19(10):1079–1087.
- Lynch RW, et al. Predicting outcome in acute severe ulcerative colitis: comparison of the Travis and Ho scores using UK IBD audit data. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;43(11):1132–1141.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Harvey-Bradshaw Index for Crohn's Disease · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Mayo Score for Ulcerative Colitis Activity · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Truelove and Witts Severity Index for Ulcerative Colitis · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Simplified Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Colchicine (Acute Gout) · Anti-Inflammatory (Microtubule Inhibitor)
- Dobutamine (Acute HF / Stress Echo) · Inotrope / Acute Heart Failure
- Milrinone · Inodilator / Acute Heart Failure
- Dapsone · Anti-inflammatory / Antimicrobial
- Colchicine · Anti-inflammatory — Neutrophilic Dermatoses / Vasculitis
- Tezepelumab (CRSwNP / Severe Asthma) · Anti-TSLP (Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin) Monoclonal Antibody
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.