Abstract :
Abstract Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory chronic disease primarily affecting thecolonic mucosa; the extent and severity of colon involvement are variable. In its most limitedform it may be restricted to the distal rectum, while in its most extended form the entirecolon is involved. UC belongs to the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which is a generalterm for a group of chronic inflammatory disorders of unknown etiology involving thegastrointestinal tract. UC is usually associated with recurrent attacks with completeremission of symptoms in the interim. In Western Europe and in the USA, UC has anincidence of approximately 6 to 8 cases per 100.000 populations and an estimated prevalenceof approximately 70 to 150 per 100.000 populations. The leading initial symptom of UC isdiarrhea with blood and mucus, sometimes with pain. Fever and weight loss are lessfrequent. Extra intestinal symptoms can be an initial manifestation or can occur later in thecourse of the disease. Eighty percent of the patients have only proctitis or proctosigmoiditis,and only 20% have extensive colitis. However, in about 50% of patients with initialproctosigmoiditis, proximal extension occurs later, and in some patients the opposite takesplace. Depending of the stage of the disease, endoscopy reveals reddening of the mucosa,increased vulnerability, mucosal bleeding, irregular ulcers, pseudo polyps, granularity, andloss of vascular architecture. Several drugs interacting with various points along the immuneand inflammatory cascades are currently available for the treatment of UC. Corticosteroids,amino salicylates, immunomodulators are the mainstay of medical treatment otherwisesurgery recommended which may be radical.
Keyword :
Keywords: Ulcerative Colitis, Diagnosis, Treatment, Patients