ULCERATIVE COLITIS

(NOT A FULL THICKNESS IBD)

• UC starts in the rectum and works its way backwards, skipping nothing in between

• It starts later than chron’s 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th, decade

• Emotional stress is trigger for new round of inflammation.

• Since the first (most mature) lesion is at the rectum, the blood in the stool wil be painted on, unlike chron’s which will have blood mixed in.

• Alternating Diarrhea and constipation like Chron’s is present

• Weight loss is not a problem as it does not affect SI where nutrient absorption takes place

• 50%=mild 35%=moderate 15%=severe (bloody b.m.. daily, tachycardia w/ Low B.P. , inflammation involving JELS (joints,eyes, liver, skin), iron deficiency anemia is contracted due to bleeding, peripheral arthropathy, sacroilitis,

• Complications of UC

  • Toxic megacolon (septicemia) – 40%

  • Stricture

  • Massive Hemorrhage

  • Perforation is not as likely as Chron’s b/c UC is NOT A FULL THICKNESS DX LIKE CHRON’S

  • All the different ulcers in Ulcerative colitis are rare

  • UC AND CHRON’S ARE THE 2 MOST COMMON IBD’S

Category: Gastroenterology Notes