Ulcerative Colitis

Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Editors: Jay W. Marks, MD

• What is ulcerative colitis?
• What causes ulcerative colitis?
• What are the symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
• How is the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis made?
• What are the complications of ulcerative colitis?
• What are the treatments for ulcerative colitis?
• 5-ASA compounds (Azulfidine, Asacol, Pentasa, Dipentum)
• Systemic corticosteroids (including side effects)
• What are immunomodulator medications?
• Summary of medication treatment
• Surgery
• What research is being done regarding ulcerative colitis?
• Ulcerative Colitis At A Glance
• Related Ulcerative Colitis articles:
  Ulcerative Colitis - on WebMD
  Ulcerative Colitis - on eMedicineHealth
  
   

Corticosteroid Side Effects Interview with Dr. Dennis Lee and Dr. William C. Shiel Jr Dr. Lee: We have several viewer questions regarding side effects of corticosteroids. Let me just introduce the topic by saying that corticosteroids are potent medications that have been used in medicine to treat many conditions that involve inflammation. For instance, they have been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritis that is caused by inflammation in the joints. They are also used to treat liver inflammation (hepatitis), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's colitis (which involve inflammation of the inner lining of the intestines). Corticosteroids are used by pulmonologists to treat asthma. So, they are very important medications. However, they have serious potential side effects. Some of them involve thinning of the bones, avascular necrosis of bones, thinning of the skin and also swelling of the face, among many other possible side effects. Here is a question for Dr. Shiel: One viewer wants to know whether long-term steroids can cause thinning of the skin. Dr. Shiel: Yes, Dr. Lee without question long-term use of cortisone-related medications such as prednisone or prednisolone is commonly associated with skin thinning. Read More » Top Searched Ulcerative Colitis Terms: ulcerative colitis causes, ulcerative colitis complications, ulcerative colitis medications, ulcerative colitis symptoms, ulcerative colitis diagnosis, ulcerative colitis treatment, ulcerative colitis risk factors

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. In patients with ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

Ulcerative colitis is closely related to another condition of inflammation of the intestines called Crohn's disease. Together, they are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseases are chronic conditions that can last years to decades. They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people In the United States. Men and women are affected equally. They most commonly begin during adolescence and early adulthood, but they also can begin during childhood and later in life.

It is found worldwide, but is most common in the United States, England, and northern Europe. It is especially common in people of Jewish descent. Ulcerative colitis is rarely seen in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America, and is rare in the black population. For unknown reasons, an increased frequency of this condition has been recently observed in developing nations.

Ulcerative Colitis - Symptoms Experienced

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