Diagnosis and Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is idiopathic, chronic inflammatory bowel disease occurring usually in the rectum and the lower part of the colon. Bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain are the common symptoms. The clinical course of the disease can be acute or chronic with unpredictable relapses and remissions. The definition of the distribution and pattern of disease is important for the establishment of treatment strategy in the active phase as well as for the maintenance of remission. The current therapies include 5 aminosalicylic acid (5 ASA), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents.