Immunology and Inflammation

Disease Analysis: Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a form of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes mucosal inflammation affecting the colon. The idiopathic inflammation is commonly associated with the rectum (proctitis) and may extend proximally, evolving into left-sided
colitis or extensive colitis. UC typically presents with bloody diarrhea, which may manifest alongside mucus, rectal urgency, tenesmus, and abdominal pain. The disease course is relapsing and remitting with intermittent periods of acute exacerbation, which may be serious enough to warrant therapy escalation, hospitalization, or even colectomy.