Ulcerative colitis

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Background

  • Inflammation tends to be progressively more severe from proximal to distal colon
  • Rectum is almost always involved
  • Peak incidence occurs in second and third decades of life

Clinical Features

Classification

  • Mild
    • <4 bowel movements per day
    • No systemic symptoms
    • Few extraintestinal manifestations
    • Occasional constipation and rectal bleeding
  • Moderate
  • Severe

Differential Diagnosis

Colitis

Evaluation

Work-up

  • CBC
  • Chemistry
  • ESR/CRP
  • Fecal calprotectin[1] (typically requested by GI)
  • Type and screen
  • Imaging
    • Consider CT based on clinical features

Management

  1. Rule-out complications:
  2. Steroids
    • Parenteral vs PO depending on severity
      • PO: prednisone 40mg x 2wks, then decrease by 5mg per week

Disposition

  • Admit for severe complication or severe flare requiring IV steroids

See Also

References

  1. van Rheenen PF, Van de Vijver E, Fidler V. Faecal calprotectin for screening of patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease: diagnostic meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;15(341):c3369.