title: Ulcerative colitis: current pharmacotherapy and future directions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing disease, characterised by alternating of acute and remission phases. Although the aetiology is unknown, in recent years, there has progressively been greater knowledge of the various pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the disease itself. Thus, from therapy based on generically anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents, treatment is gradually moving towards drugs that selectively block specific inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides the most significant data about the therapeutic role of different drugs currently available for the treatment of UC. In addition, the critical therapeutic areas on which research could focus in the near future are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UC is a disease affecting young patients, whose quality of life may be strongly compromised by the progression of disease. Over time, the disease may lead to an impairment of the normal anatomy and physiology of the colon, and the cumulative incidence of dysplasia and colorectal cancer increases with the time. Thus, the main aims of the near future should be both a better definition of patients at risk for a poor clinical course and progression of disease, and the development of a much more aggressive treatment for patients with a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: "L. Sacco" University Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Oncology and Surgery , Via GB Grassi, 74, 20157 Milan , Italy +39 02 3904 2486 ; +39 02 3904 2232 ; samari1@tin.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bezzio
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furfaro
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Franchis
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maconi
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Asthana
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardizzone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: biologics; conventional therapy; future directions; ulcerative colitis