Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) represent the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). UC is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory condition affecting the colon and rectum. Maintenance of a healthy gut requires a complex interplay between components of the innate immune system and environmental factors, notably the microflora. This relationship is dysregulated in UC. Current concepts of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and management of ulcerative colitis are reviewed.