Ulcerative Colitis: Current Management Strategy

The primary goals of therapy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) are to induce remission of patient symptoms as rapidly as possible and maintain remission on a long-term basis. New formulations of mesalazine and corticosteroids show promise in improving compliance and efficacy. There is consistent evidence for the role of cyclosporine in severe UC and expanding evidence for thiopurines in refractory UC. Clinical trials demonstrating the benefit of infliximab in acute severe and chronic active UC have provided insights into the pathogenic inflammatory pathways. The future for the management of UC appears promising as new therapies continue to be added to the treatment armamentarium, and strategies incorporating current and novel therapies continue to evolve. ULCERATIVE COLITIS: CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Sanjay Bandyopadhyay, Kolkata