title: Therapeutic advances in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition that requires individualized and innovative therapy for each patient depending on the symptoms, location, severity, and chronicity of the disease. It is most often a chronic illness that requires modification in treatment as the stage of the disease changes. Systemic and rectal aminosalicylates (sulfasalazine, mesalamine, olsalazine and corticosteroids) remain the most useful therapeutic agents. Rectally administered mesalamine and the forms of oral mesalamine appear to have significant advantage over sulfasalazine dosage forms. Future clinical usage and scientific study will determine the place of these newer agents among other medical therapies and the surgical management of ulcerative colitis.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dukes
mesh_terms: D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education