title: Safety of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: For many years, corticosteroids have been the mainstay for treating acute ulcerative colitis. In patients with refractory disease, immunosuppressive therapy may be indicated, including azathioprine or its metabolite 6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporin and possibly methotrexate. Their benefits in ulcerative colitis must be weighed up against their possible adverse effects, the availability of surgical cure for this condition, and the long-term risk of carcinoma complicating colitis that applies in patients with chronic extensive disease. Information about the safety of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents has accumulated as a result of their extensive use in inflammatory bowel disease, organ transplantation and various other disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents