Riassunto

• Form of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the rectum and extends proximally. Characterised by diffuse inflammation of the colonic mucosa and a relapsing, remitting course.
• Patients commonly experience bloody diarrhoea, chronic diarrhoea (or both), lower abdominal pain, faecal urgency, and extraintestinal manifestations, particularly those related to activity of the colitis.
• Diagnosis requires endoscopy with biopsy and negative stool culture.
• Relapses are often associated with pathogens; therefore, stool should be obtained for culture in all cases of disease flare-up.
• Treatment aims to induce and maintain remission. Drug choice and formulation depends on the severity and extent of disease.
• Toxic megacolon can occur with associated risk of perforation. Bowel adenocarcinoma is a complication in 3% to 5% of patients.