Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Ulcerative colitis

Up to 2 million persons suffer Ulcerative Colitis in Europe with the highest prevalence & incidence rates found in Northern Europe

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease that causes lasting inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. UC affects the deeper lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Usually, symptoms do not appear suddenly but do so over time.

UC can be debilitating and sometimes cause complications that can be life-threatening. Although a cure is yet to be found, the treatment can greatly reduce the signs and symptoms of the disease and even cause long-term remission.

The symptoms related to UC can be urgency to defecate and incontinence, tenesmus (incomplete emptying sensation), increased frequency of bowel movements, mucus in the stool, night defecation, flatulence, abdominal pain and blood in the stool.

Doctors usually classify UC according to where it occurs. The types of UC are:

Ulcerative Proctitis

Inflammation is limited to the area closest to the anus (rectum), and rectal bleeding may be the only sign of the disease. This form of UC is usually the mildest.

Proctosigmoiditis

Inflammation affects the rectum and sigmoid colon (lower end of the colon). The signs and symptoms are bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramps, as well as the inability to defecate despite the need to do so (tenesmus).

Left-Sided Colitis

Inflammation extends from the rectum to the sigmoid and descending colon. Signs and symptoms may include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping on the left side, as well as involuntary weight loss.

Pancolitis

Typically, Pancolitis affects the entire colon and causes episodes of bloody diarrhoea (which can be severe), abdominal pain and cramping, fatigue and significant weight loss.

Other
Autoimmune
Diseases