title: [Management of ulcerative colitis].
abstract: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The disease is diagnosed on the basis of clinical parameters and endoscopic-histologic evaluation. 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, mesalamine) represents the first-line treatment of choice. For patients with distal and left-sided disease the use of rectal preparations is effective. Most patients respond to 5-ASA suppositories or to topic steroids such as budesonide suppositories or hydrocortisone foam. For patients with extended disease, oral medications are mandatory. In case of low- to moderate-grade inflammation, 5-ASA preparations should be implemented. In the case of severe disease treatment with steroids is required. Following induction of remission, prophylactic treatment with 5-ASA (1.5 g/d) should be maintained. For patients with frequent or severe relapses, immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine is indicated. In case of a fulminant course of disease, treatment with intravenous cyclosporine is required in patients who have not responded to high-dose intravenous steroids. When all conservative treatment options fail, proctocolectomy with construction of an ileoanal pouch should be performed. New therapeutic strategies such as infliximab and interferons are being evaluated in clinical trials. The long-term complications of ulcerative colitis include steroid-induced osteoporosis and anemia and should be treated adequately. Finally, the risk for development of colorectal cancer increases steadily with disease duration and dysplasia should be screened for by endoscopic surveillance programs.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Departement Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital, Zürich.
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Rammert
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kullak-Ublick
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D039021:Colonic Pouches; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D010919:Placebos; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013488:Suppositories; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003524:Cyclosporins; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010919:Placebos; D013488:Suppositories; D019804:Mesalamine; D019819:Budesonide; D007372:Interferons; D000069285:Infliximab; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine; D006854:Hydrocortisone
vernacular_title: Management der Colitis ulcerosa.