Ulcerative colitis

What is ulcerative colitis (UC)?
 

UC happens when the immune system starts to attack the bowel.¹ Causes are thought to include a mix of:¹

• The genes a person has inherited
• The immune system functioning incorrectly
• Gut flora (bacteria in the gut)
• An environmental trigger
   

UC causes¹
 

Prevalence of UC

UC can be diagnosed at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in people aged from 15 to 25 years old.² Men and women are equally affected by the condition.²

Prevalence of UC¹
 

Signs and symptoms of UC

The symptoms of UC can range from mild to severe and are likely to change over time.¹ Some people with UC may have periods of good health (remission) as well as times when symptoms come back (flare-ups or relapses).¹

When the disease is active, symptoms may include:*^1–4
 

Active UC symptoms^1–4

^{*These symptoms may not always be symptoms of UC. Please always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for further information.}
 

In rare cases, UC can cause other complications such as toxic megacolon (severe inflammation) and perforations, or ruptures, of the bowel.^1,5 UC is associated with an increased risk of bowel (colorectal) cancer, with people with UC almost 2.5 times more likely to develop it than those without UC.⁶

Living with UC can profoundly affect quality of life, particularly during flares and relapses, with almost half of people with UC saying that their mental health is affected.^1,7,8

References

¹ Crohn's & Colitis UK. Ulcerative colitis: your guide. Available at: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/media/sw5fmsjq/uc-ed-10-with-links.pdf
Last accessed: October 2023

² NHS. Ulcerative colitis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/.
Last accessed: October 2023

³ Mayo Clinic. Ulcerative colitis. Symptoms & causes. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353326. 
Last accessed: October 2023

⁴ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of ulcerative colitis. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms-causes.
Last accessed: October 2023

⁵ Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The facts about inflammatory bowel diseases. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/ibdfactbook.pdf.
Last accessed: October 2023

⁶ Jess T, Rungoe C, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Risk of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Jun;10(6):639-45.

⁷ McMullan C, Pinkney TD, Jones LL et al. Adapting to ulcerative colitis to try to live a 'normal' life: a qualitative study of patients' experiences in the Midlands region of England. BMJ Open. 2017 Aug 21;7(8):e017544.

⁸ Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Navigating daily life with IBD. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/mental-health/navigating-daily-life-with-ibd.
Last accessed: October 2023

⁹ Bristol Myers Squibb. More than guts: inflammatory bowel disease podcast. Available at: https://www.bms.com/gb/about-us/inflammatory-bowel-disease-podcasts.html.
Last accessed: October 2023

October 2023 | ONC-GB-2200683