BMJ  2006;333:340-343 (12 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7563.340

Practice

Ulcerative colitis: diagnosis and management

¹ University of Liverpool, Henry Wellcome Laboratory, Nuffield Building, Liverpool L69 3GE, ² Fifth Floor UCD Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA

This article summarises the essential facts on the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis and is aimed at general practitioners who manage this condition

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterised by diffuse inflammation of the colonic mucosa. It affects the rectum and extends proximally along a variable length of the colon. The disease can be categorised as left sided colitis (inflammation up to the splenic flexure) or extensive colitis (inflammation beyond the splenic flexure). These categories are useful when formulating treatment options and planning the timing of surveillance colonoscopy, which is used to detect and prevent colorectal carcinoma. Colitis affects about one in 1000 people in the Western world.

The cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unclear, but it seems to occur in genetically susceptible people in response to environmental triggers. Ulcerative colitis is probably an autoimmune disease initiated by an inflammatory response to colonic bacteria.¹ From 10% to 20% of patients with the disease have at least one family member with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease).¹

. . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Avoid delaying surgery in patients with severe ulcerative colitis

Neil J Smart
BMJ 2006 333: 501. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Smart, N. J (2006). Avoid delaying surgery in patients with severe ulcerative colitis.. BMJ 333: 501-501 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

management of ulcerative colitis should be patient-centred

Greg Rubin, et al.
bmj.com, 18 Aug 2006 [Full text]

Re: management of ulcerative colitis should be patient-centred

Nazar R Dessouki
bmj.com, 19 Aug 2006 [Full text]

Avoid delaying surgery in patients with severe ulcerative colitis.

Neil J Smart
bmj.com, 20 Aug 2006 [Full text]

Re: Re: management of ulcerative colitis should be patient-centred

Aasa H. Reidak
bmj.com, 20 Aug 2006 [Full text]

Some points on steroids

Fernando Gomollon
bmj.com, 21 Aug 2006 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more>>