Ulcerative Colitis / Ulcerative Proctocolitis
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - K51
What it is
Ulcerative proctocolitis (UC) or ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the mucosa (inner lining) of the colon, in the large intestine, or the rectum.
The disease is classified according to the affected area. When it affects the lower part of the colon and rectum, it is classified as ulcerative proctitis. If the disease affects only the left side of the colon, it is called distal colitis, and if it involves the entire colon, it is diagnosed as pancolitis.
There is an increased risk of colon cancer due to the chronic inflammatory process. Colonoscopy is recommended for disease monitoring, and the frequency should be determined by the attending medical team.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
- bloody diarrhea
- urgent need to defecate
- abdominal pain
- foul-smelling odor
- fever
Causes
The causes of ulcerative colitis are unknown, but it is known that the disease is not contagious.
Treatment
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease and has no cure. Treatment with available medications reduces inflammation and aims to control symptoms.
The choice of drug treatment depends on the extent of the disease, the age at diagnosis, the degree of inflammatory activity seen on colonoscopy, and any previous therapeutic failures. The occurrence of side effects and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations are also considered.
There is also a role for surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis, which may involve removing the affected part of the colon, with or without removal of the rectum. In such cases, a delicate procedure called total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch construction as a substitute for the diseased colon and rectum may be performed, usually via laparoscopic or robotic access.