What are the common complications of ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, blood in stools and malaise. As ulcerative colitis is a condition that presents which relapsing and remitting pattern, these recurrent inflammation episodes lead to multiple complications. These complications comprise of: 1) acute manifestations include toxic magacolon, 2) primary sclerosing cholangitis 3) colorectal carcinoma (ulcerative colitis increases risk of cancer by 10-20%, Due to this complication monitoring colonoscopy is indicated in ulcerative colitis patients after 10 years), 4) osteoporosis due to steroid intake for recurrent episodes. It is recommended to start bisphosphnate therapy after 65 years of age in patients.
