Pharmacological Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colonic mucosa and submucosa. The characteristic symptoms of UC are intermittent bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Treatment for UC aims at decreasing the inflammation and suppressing the immune system. For mild to moderate disease the mainstay of treatment is 5-ASA which can be used to induce and maintain remission. Glucocorticosteroids can be used if 5-ASA can‘t be tolerated or in refractory cases. In moderate to severe disease glucocorticosteroids can be used and in steroid- refractory cases calcineurin inhibitors or biologics can be beneficial.