Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Offered by Doctors at Mercy in Baltimore
Ulcerative colitis, one of the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, can cause extreme pain and discomfort that can be debilitating for some people. Dr. Mary Harris and Dr. Matilda Hagan at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy in Baltimore are recognized experts in the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis. Patients from across the Mid-Atlantic region turn to Dr. Harris for her experience and expertise in managing ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of the large intestine. The inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis is located in one continuous portion of the intestine. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown though it can be hereditary. Ulcerative colitis also is thought to be the result of the intestine’s immune system malfunctioning, which causes chronic inflammation.
Ulcerative colitis can affect both men and women and can occur at any age; however, ulcerative colitis most likely occurs between the ages of 15 to 30 or 50 to 70. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a high risk of developing ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Severe diarrhea
- Blood in stool
- Ulcers
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
To diagnose ulcerative colitis, a colonoscopy with biopsy often is conducted. Other tests for diagnosing ulcerative colitis can include:
- Blood tests
- CT scan
- Chromoendoscopy
Treatment options for ulcerative colitis can include:
- Drug therapy – such as such as infliximab, also known as Remicade, biologic agents, immunomodulators, steroids, and mesalamine products
- Colectomy – can be curative if the ulcerative colitis patient becomes unresponsive to medications