Gastrointestinal Medicine: Ulcerative Colitis (Uc)

Front 1

Describe Ulcerative Colitis

Back 1

Ulcerative Colitis is a Relapsing and Remitting Inflammatory Condition of the Colonic Mucosa.

(i.e. there are Periods of Remission followed by Relapse Flares).

Pathology
Unknown; there is a Genetic Component. Adhesive Expressing Strains of E.Coli have been Implicated.

Front 2

List the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Back 2

Local

(1) Diarrhoea +/- Blood and Mucus

(2) Crampy Abdominal Pain

(3) Faecal Frequency

Systemic

(4) Fever

(5) Malaise

(6) Weight Loss

(7) Anorexia

In Rectal Disease:

(8) Rectal Pain

(9) Tenesmus

(10) Urgency

Front 3

List the Signs of Ulcerative Colitis

Back 3

No Signs

or in a Flare of UC and/or with Chronic UC:

Intestinal

(1) Localised Abdominal Tenderness

Extra-Intestinal

(2) Apthous Ulcers
(3) Finger Clubbing

(4) Erythema Nodosum

(5) Pyoderma Gangrenosum

(6) Conjunctivitis

(7) Episcleritis

(8) Iritis

(9) Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies

(10) Fatty Liver, PSC, Amyloidosis

Systemic

includes Fever, Tachycardia and Malnutrition

Front 4

Describe the Distribution of Ulerative Colitis within the Bowel.

Back 4

Disease of the Colonic Mucosa:

50% of Cases:
Rectal Disease (Proctitis)

30% of Cases:

Descending Colon Disease (Left Colitis)

20% of Cases:
Entire Colon Disease (Pancolitis)

NEVER Spreads Proximal to the Ileocaecal Valve (EXCEPT in Backwash Ileitis).

Front 5

List the Histopathological Features of Ulcerative Colitis.

Back 5

(1) Inflammatory Infiltrates

(2) Decreased Goblet Cells

(3) Mucosal Ulcers

(4) Crypt Abscesses

(5) Glandular Distortion