Question

What treatment(s) would you recommend to your patients with Ulcerative Colitis? What new treatments/expanded research would you like to have completed on Ulcerative Colitis? Are there any treatments currently that sound more promising that another? Explain.

Answer 1

Treatments for ulcerative colitis:

-anti inflammatory drugs which include 5- aminosalicylates and corticosteroids.

-immune system suppressors which include azathioprine, cyclosporine and tofacitinib.

-antidiarrheal medications(loperamide), NSAIDs, antispasmodics and iron supplements.

-surgical includes colostomy, ileostomy, colectomy and protocolectomy.

-supported treatment :iv fluids

-medical procedure: Enema.

Home remedies

-limit dairy products

-eat small meals

-drink plenty of liquids

-consult dietitian

-control stress through exercise and relaxation.

New treatments for ulcerative colitis include:

Anti -TNF drugs can help those people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis whose symptoms haven't improved while on other drugs. These includes adalimumab, vedolizumab and infliximab.

Hope for developing new treatment for ulcerative colitis suggest that the condition may be linked to low level of gut bacteria.

Also it has been found there is low level of gut microbes that can convert bile acid into the substances. Earlier those people who have undergone surgery had inflamation on that area and require anti inflammatory drugs, researchers have found that those patients who have undergone surgery for ulcerative colitis have lower level of certain acid in their feces and low level of bacteria that produce them, than those who have undergone surgery for other reasons.

Certain bacteria in the gut convert bile acids from the liver to some other substances called secondary bile acids, these substances are found to have anti-inflammatory role.

It has been found that patients treated for ulcerative colitis have low level of secondary bile acids in their faeces.

So a new research study can be developed to explore whether introducing secondary bile acid may help people who have undergone surgery for ulcerative colitis but develop inflammation in their pouches.

Yes there are treatments currently that sound more promising than the other for ulcerative colitis.

This includes adalimumab, vedolizumab and infliximab, these drugs are called anti-TNF drugs. This drugs work by neutralizing the protein called tumor necrosis factor produced by the immune system that can trigger inflamation. These are used for people with severe ulcerative colitis who don't respond to or can tolerate other treatments.