UC is a chronic immune response disease
That means your immune system is at battle with the cells of your intestines, which leads to uncontrolled inflammation and symptoms.
UC usually starts in the rectum
After starting in the rectum, the disease can advance consistently throughout the entire colon.
UC can cause damage
Without proper treatment, even if you are not experiencing symptoms, UC can cause your intestinal lining to become dry, brittle, and inflamed as the disease progresses. Small sores may develop.
UC is a progressive disease
Most often, the disease can get worse over time without proper treatment.
It's important to find a treatment option that can help control your symptoms and start to improve the appearance of your intestinal lining.
The symptoms of UC may include:
- Loose and urgent bowel movements
- Bloody stool
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Rectal pain
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Inability to defecate despite urgency
- Loose and urgent bowel movements
- Bloody stool
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Rectal pain
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Inability to defecate despite urgency
What Causes UC?
While the direct cause of UC remains unclear, here's what we do know:
You may be more likely to experience UC if it's part of your family's medical history
UC affects approximately 1.3 million people in the United States.* Your risk is higher if you have a close relative who has UC, such as a parent, sibling, or child
UC can occur at any age; however, it is more common in people between the ages of 15 and 30 and less common in people between 50 and 70 years of age
UC symptoms begin when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your intestines for reasons we do not yet understand
*Extrapolated to the 2020 US Census estimate of 33,449,281 US population.
How Is UC Treated?
Biologics
Biologics are medications that are genetically engineered from products of living organisms, such as proteins, genes, or antibodies. They target enzymes and proteins that may cause inflammation. By controlling inflammation in the intestine, biologics can help patients achieve and maintain remission or periods of few or no symptoms. For many patients, biologics can be safe and effective treatment options for managing UC, but there are risks that you should discuss with your doctor.
Pharmaceuticals
Aminosalicylates (5-ASA, mesalamine)
Immune modifiers (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, others)*
Steroids (prednisone, budesonide, others)
S1Ps (sphingosine 1-phosphate) receptor modulators
Other (Janus kinase or JAK inhibitor)
*Not all medications used to treat UC are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of UC.
US FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration.