title: Clinical guidelines for the medical management of left-sided ulcerative colitis and ulcerative proctitis: summary statement.
abstract: There are few published guidelines for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Physicians choose therapy based on evidence-based data, peer and expert opinion, and personal experience. This article provides treatment guidelines for the induction and maintenance of ulcerative proctitis and left-sided colitis and the management of disease refractory to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) compounds and corticosteroids The guidelines are derived from evidence-based data and, when lacking, expert opinion or the authors' experience. The comprehensive review of the literature is presented in the accompanying article, "The Medical Management of Left-Sided Ulcerative Colitis and Ulcerative Proctitis: Critical Evaluation of Therapeutic Trials". Rectally administered 5-ASA and corticosteroid suppositories are effective treatment for most ulcerative proctitis patients. Corticosteroid and 5-ASA enemas, which reach the splenic flexure of the colon, are recommended for patients with left-sided ulcerative colitis. The combination of rectally administered 5-ASA enemas and oral 5-ASA agents may afford better treatment of left-sided colitis and possibly prevent proximal extension of disease. Patients refractory to 5-ASAs and corticosteroids may require an immunomodulator or biological response modifier therapy. Those who have ongoing signs and symptoms of ulcerative proctitis and left-sided ulcerative colitis despite maximal medical therapy require a proctocolectomy.
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. mdr7@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regueiro
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Loftus
authors.forename: A Hillary
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Steinhart
authors.forename: Russell D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000465:Algorithms; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008954:Models, Biological; D011349:Proctitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine