Ulcerative colitis causes and risk factors
Bringing the causes of ulcerative colitis to light
Nobody knows what causes ulcerative colitis (UC). It affects males and females equally. Most people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s, but it can occur at any age. More than half a million Americans suffer from UC.1
Ulcerative colitis may not be caused by stress, but many find that their anxiety over having the condition can worsen their symptoms. Another factor that may aggravate symptoms is food. While it's not clear what relationship food has to UC, some patients believe that certain foods act as a trigger.
But what exactly is UC? Most healthcare professionals think UC is a type of autoimmune reaction in which the immune system mistakes food, helpful bacteria, and other materials in the colon for harmful invaders. The result? The immune system sends white blood cells to attack substances in the colon, which causes inflammation and other symptoms of UC.
Some possible ulcerative colitis risk factors include
- Family history—up to 20% of people with UC have an immediate relative with UC1,2
- Environmental factors—some research suggests that environmental factors, such as industrialization, sanitation and hygiene, or differences in access to specialized healthcare may be related to geographical differences in rates of UC
- Ethnicity—Whites have the highest risk, and there is a higher incidence in Jewish people than non-Jewish people
Your doctor is your best source of information for anything you do not understand about your disease, so do not hesitate to ask about any subject relating to your condition.
Bringing real answers to life
While research continues to look for ulcerative colitis causes and a cure, many advances have been made in treatments that help manage symptoms long term. APRISO’s once-daily extended-release formula has been shown to be effective in helping patients with UC manage their symptoms and stay in remission for up to 6 months.3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
APRISO is a locally acting aminosalicylate indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in patients 18 years and older. APRISO is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to salicylates or aminosalicylates (sulfasalazine) or to any of the components of APRISO capsules. It is recommended that patients have an evaluation of renal function prior to initiation of APRISO therapy and periodically while on therapy. Exercise caution when using APRISO in patients with known renal dysfunction or a history of renal disease. Mesalamine has been associated with an acute intolerance syndrome that may be difficult to distinguish from a flare of inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms include cramping, acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, sometimes fever, headache, and rash. If acute intolerance syndrome is suspected, promptly discontinue treatment with APRISO. There have been reports of hepatic failure in patients with pre-existing liver disease who have been administered mesalamine. Caution should be exercised when administering APRISO to patients with liver disease. The recommended dose of APRISO is four 0.375-g capsules once daily in the morning (1.5 g/day) with or without food. Because dissolution of the coating of APRISO granules depends on pH, APRISO should not be coadministered with antacids. Patients with phenylketonuria should be aware that APRISO contains aspartame, equivalent to 2.24 mg of phenylalanine per day. In 2 well-controlled clinical trials, the most common treatment-related adverse events occurring in at least 3% of adult patients taking 1.5 g/day of APRISO and at a rate greater than placebo were headache (11% vs 8% for placebo), diarrhea (8% vs 7% for placebo), upper abdominal pain (5% vs 3% for placebo), nausea (4% vs 3% for placebo), nasopharyngitis (4% vs 3% for placebo), influenza and influenza-like illness (4% vs 4% for placebo), and sinusitis (3% vs 3% for placebo).
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/ or call
1-800-FDA-1088.
Complete Prescribing Information
For product information, adverse event reports, and product complaint reports, please contact:
Salix Product Information Call Center
Phone: 1-800-508-0024
Fax: 1-510-595-8183
E-mail: Salix@medcomsol.com
References: 1. About ulcerative colitis & proctitis. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Available at: http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/ucp/. Accessed June 13, 2011. 2. Ulcerative colitis. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colitis/. Accessed June 13, 2011. 3. APRISO [prescribing information]. Morrisville, NC: Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc; 2008.