title: Recent advances in understanding ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis, one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by inflammation of the large bowel with constant involvement of the rectum, and a possible continuous retrograde distribution up to the cecum. Typical macroscopic lesions are mucosal ulcerations, with immune cell infiltration and cryptic abscesses at histology. Ulcerative colitis usually manifests with bloody diarrhea, is associated with a number of extra-intestinal manifestations, and may be acutely complicated by toxic megacolon. Longstanding disease may predispose to the development of colorectal cancer. Therapeutic options include mesalazine, corticosteroids, immunomodulators and biologic agents; however, if these treatments fail, the only available therapeutic choice remaining is the surgical removal of the colon. This review emphasizes novel concepts in the basic aspects of ulcerative colitis, and, in addition to the current clinical and diagnostic knowledge, it also describes new treatment options for this condition.
authors: First Department of Medicine, Centro per lo Studio e la Cura delle Malattie Infiammatorie Croniche Intestinali, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 19, 27100, Pavia, Italy. a.disabatino@smatteo.pv.it
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Di Sabatino
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Biancheri
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Rovedatti
authors: Thomas Thornton
authors: TT
authors: Macdonald
authors: Gino Roberto
authors: GR
authors: Corazza
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D019804:Mesalamine