Clinical course and prognosis in ulcerative colitis: results from population-based and observational studies (EN)

Monstad, Iril

Solberg, Inger Camilla

Moum, Bjørn A.

Hovde, Øistein

The clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) may range from a quiescent course with prolonged periods of remission to fulminant disease requiring intensive medical treatment or surgery. Disease outcome is often determined by relapse rates, the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and mortality rates. Early patient classification, identifying those with a high risk of developing complicated disease, is essential for choosing appropriate treatment. This paper reviews the clinical outcomes of UC patients as reported in population-based and observational studies representative of the whole patient population. Extensive colitis, a high level of systemic symptoms and young age at diagnosis are factors associated with a high risk of colectomy.  Patients with distal disease who progress to extensive colitis seem to be a subgroup with an especially high risk of colectomy. Some prognostic factors of severe disease have been identified which could be used to optimize treatment and possibly reduce future complications. The overall risk of CRC and mortality was not significantly different from that of the background population. These results may have implications for follow-up strategies, especially regarding endoscopic surveillance of UC patients.Keywords Ulcerative colitis, natural history, colorectal cancer, mortalityAnn Gastroenterol 2014; 27 (2): 95-104 (EN)

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Ελληνική Γαστροεντερολογική Εταιρία

Annals of Gastroenterology

Invited Reviews

Αγγλική γλώσσα

2014-03-11

http://www.annalsgastro.gr/index.php/annalsgastro/article/view/1526

Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology (EN)

1792-7463

1108-7471

Annals of Gastroenterology; Volume 27, No 2 (2014); 95 (EN)