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Ulcerative colitis

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ulcerative colitis.

Alternative Names

Inflammatory bowel disease; Colitis - ulcerative

Highlights

Drug Approval

Infliximab (Remicade) was approved in 2005 for treatment of adults with ulcerative colitis. It is the first biologic drug approved for ulcerative colitis (UC). According to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine , infliximab helped patients with moderate-to-severe UC achieve and maintain remission.

Quality of Life

UC symptoms impact many patients’ quality of life, according to a 2005 survey. Survey results indicated:

• UC symptoms can interfere with work, family, and social situations.
• 40% of patients with UC experience severe symptoms 180 days per year.
• Patients with UC feel that their condition is misunderstood and underestimated by family, friends, and co-workers.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDS such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), and celecoxib (Celebrex) are as safe for patients with UC as for other people, according to several 2006 studies. The studies found that NSAIDs may provide pain relief and prevent symptom relapse. However, patients should always discuss NSAID use with their doctors.

Complications

Patients with UC have an increased risk of developing other inflammatory and autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.

Colorectal Cancer and Ulcerative Colitis

• Patients with UC have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. The longer a patient has UC, and the more severe the condition, the greater the risk for cancer.
• Regular colonoscopy exams, and some types of anti-inflammatory drugs, may help reduce cancer risk.
• Patients with UC who develop colorectal cancer have a poorer survival outlook than those without UC.

Surgery

Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) surgery triples the risk of infertility in women who have the procedure, indicates a 2006 study. Doctors think that the surgery may scar and block the fallopian tubes, making it more difficult for women to conceive.

• Review Date: 8/23/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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