J Korean Soc Coloproctol.
1998 Jun;14(2):247-258.
Clinical Analysis of Ulcerative Colitis
Abstract
- Ulcerative colitis is increasing now in Korea, and the diagnosis has become relatively easy because sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are frequently used. However, the result of treatment is not satisfactory because the relapse rate is very high. Hence, the aim of treatment is to put this disease into remission as soon as possible and to keep it in remission. The authors reviewed 80 confirmed ulcerative colitis cases which were treated from Feb. 1997 to Sep. 1997 at Song Do Colorectal Hospital. The results are as follows: 1) The male to female ratio for these 80 cases was 41:39, and the most prevalent age group was the 4th decade. 2) The most common clinical symptoms were anal bleeding in 77 cases(96%), diarrhea in 68 cases(85%), and abdominal pain in 21 cases(26%). 3) The extension of the disease were the proctitis in 47 cases(59%), the left - side colitis in 28 cases(35%), the total colitis in 4 cases(5%), and the atypical colitis in 1 case(1.3%). 4) The duration of the disease was below 6 month in 30 cases, 6 months to 1 year in 35 cases, and 1~5 years in 11 cases, and over 5 years in 4 cases. 5) Clinical types were the one-attack-only type(18 cases), the relapsing-remitting type(60 cases), the chronic continuous type(1 case), and the acute fulminating type(1 case). 6) In the 28 cases of left side colitis, the average time to remission depended on the medication was 18 days for a 5-ASA 5-ASA suppository, 14.5 days for a 5-ASA oral steroid, and 8.3 days for a 5-ASA budesonide enema. Thus, a budesonide enema is the most effective medication for obtaining remission. 7) The most commonly suspected predisposing factors for relapse were cessation of medication(58 cases), mental stress(18 cases), physical stress(15 cases), and inadequate diet(8 cases). As indicated above, ulcerative colitis is increasing now in Korea, and the rectum is the most commonly involved site for this disease. Relapsing-remitting ulcerative colitis is the most frequently occurring type. Almost all cases were easily put into remission within 4 weeks, but relapse frequently occurred. Suspected predisposing factors, such as mental stress, physical stress, and inadequate diet, should be avoided in order to prevent relapse, and medication, such as 5-aminosalicylic acid, should be continued to maintain remission.
