Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis

        Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum of autoimmune nature. If Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract and affect the tissue in depth, ulcerative colitis affects only the colon and rectum.
There are four forms of ulcerative colitis, depending on the extent of the disease:

• Ulcerative proctitis, which is limited to the rectum;
• The proctosigmoiditis, which affects the rectum and sigmoid colon;
• Distal colitis, which affects the part of the colon at the left of the body;
• The pancolitis, which affects the entire colon.

        Ulcerative colitis is caused by chronic inflammation of the lining of the colon and rectum. Its cause is unknown at this time and is characterized by the emission of mucus (secretion protects the mucous lining of these organs) and blood through the anus. This condition is relatively rare, reached essentially the young woman, with a preference for the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian (Norway). It most often associated with an inflammatory disease of the vertebral joints: the spondyloarthropathies.

The symptoms of this disease are:

• Frequent stools (up to 10 to 12 per day).
• Issue of blood and mucus accompanying stool.
• Abdominal pain.
• Fever.
• Digestive problems.
• Altered state, general fatigue.
• Mouth ulcers.
• Erythema nodosum.
• Leg ulcers.
• Inflammation of the eye (the choroid, iris, ciliary body).
• Spondylarthropathie (inflammation of the joints of the limbs, pelvis and spine).

        The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is mainly due by the exploration of the rectum and colon through colonoscopy. Using the colonoscope (consisting of a tube with an optical system) it is showed the hemorrhage caused by inflammation of the mucosa. In addition, colonoscopy can also take samples of intestinal tissue essential for monitoring disease progression and looking for precancerous lesions. The treatment of ulcerative colitis requires a diet without fiber or lactose, only during crises. Consumption of food-based spices and fried is strongly discouraged. The drugs used are:

• The intestinal antiseptic.
• The anti-inflammatory drugs (orally or by enema).
• Steroids, mainly during relapses.
• Sulfasalazine or mesalazine.
• Immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine, mercaptopurine) whose indication is controversial, are sometimes used when corticosteroids are poorly tolerated.
• Blood transfusions in cases of significant anemia.
• In severe cases, a removal of the colon is sometimes necessary, especially when there is risk of massive bleeding or when the rectum is a source of significant blood loss. Psychologically resented by the patient, this intervention can nevertheless permanently remove the risk of cancer.