Ulcerative colitis

Last updated: Thursday, 17, February, 2011
ComplicationsAppropriate Tests

Diagnosis based on clinical features and findings on colorectal biopsy.

It is important to exclude infective causes of bloody diarrhoea, especially Campylobacter jejuni, Entamoeba histolytica, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Shigella sp.

See Diarrhoea and Inflammatory bowel disease

Faecal calprotectin is useful for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy.

Colonic complications

Carcinoma colon

See Carnicoma

Toxic megacolon

Hepatobiliary disease, especially

Albumin - plasma, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP.
See Hepatitis - Autoimmune
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
See under Cholestasis.

Systemic complications

CRP to monitor disease activity

Hypoalbuminaemia

Albumin - plasma.

Hypokalaemia

Electrolytes (potassium - plasma).

Anaemia, especially

  • Haemolytic anaemia, especially

FBC, blood film.
Anaemia is usually multifactorial: further investigation guided by initial findings on blood film.

See Haemolysis
    • Salicylazosulphapyridine
Heinz body preparation.
    • Salicylazosulphapyridine

Splenic atrophy

Erythema nodosum

Iritis

Pyoderma gangrenosum

Arthritis - polyarticular

Ankylosing spondylitis