BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Asian populations have not been well characterized. We therefore investigated the clinical features and natural history of UC in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 304 Korean patients with UC first diagnosed at the Asan Medical Center between June 1989 and August 2005. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio of the patients was 0.94:1, and their median age at diagnosis was 40.0 years (range, 12-72 years). At diagnosis, proctitis was noted in 134 patients (44.1%), left-sided colitis in 69 patients (22.7%), and extensive colitis in 101 patients (33.2%). Disease activity at diagnosis was mild in 149 patients (49.0%), moderate in 125 patients (41.1%), and severe in 26 patients (8.6%). In addition, 4 asymptomatic patients (1.3%) were detected as a result of a screening colonoscopy. Clinical remission after the first attack was documented in 97.4% of patients. The cumulative relapse rate after 1, 5, and 10 years was 30.2%, 72.0%, and 88.4%, respectively. The cumulative risk of proximal extension in patients with proctitis or left-sided colitis was 33.0% after 5 years and 44.5% after 10 years. The cumulative probability of colectomy was 2.0% after 1 year, 2.8% after 3 years, and 3.3% after 5 to 15 years. The cumulative survival rate after 1, 5, and 10 years was 100%, 99.4%, and 97.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of Korean UC patients at diagnosis are similar to those of Westerners. However, UC in Koreans may have a milder course than in Westerners, as indicated by the lower rate of colectomy among Koreans.
BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Asian populations have not been well characterized. We therefore investigated the clinical features and natural history of UC in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 304 Korean patients with UC first diagnosed at the Asan Medical Center between June 1989 and August 2005. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio of the patients was 0.94:1, and their median age at diagnosis was 40.0 years (range, 12-72 years). At diagnosis, proctitis was noted in 134 patients (44.1%), left-sided colitis in 69 patients (22.7%), and extensive colitis in 101 patients (33.2%). Disease activity at diagnosis was mild in 149 patients (49.0%), moderate in 125 patients (41.1%), and severe in 26 patients (8.6%). In addition, 4 asymptomatic patients (1.3%) were detected as a result of a screening colonoscopy. Clinical remission after the first attack was documented in 97.4% of patients. The cumulative relapse rate after 1, 5, and 10 years was 30.2%, 72.0%, and 88.4%, respectively. The cumulative risk of proximal extension in patients with proctitis or left-sided colitis was 33.0% after 5 years and 44.5% after 10 years. The cumulative probability of colectomy was 2.0% after 1 year, 2.8% after 3 years, and 3.3% after 5 to 15 years. The cumulative survival rate after 1, 5, and 10 years was 100%, 99.4%, and 97.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of Korean UC patients at diagnosis are similar to those of Westerners. However, UC in Koreans may have a milder course than in Westerners, as indicated by the lower rate of colectomy among Koreans.
Authors: Jin Ha Lee; Jae Hee Cheon; Eun Soo Kim; Moon Jae Chung; Wonseok Kang; Duk Hwan Kim; You Jung Ha; Jae Jun Park; Tae Il Kim; Won Ho Kim Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2009-06-09 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Han Ho Jeon; Hyun Jung Lee; Hui Won Jang; Jin Young Yoon; Yoon Suk Jung; Soo Jung Park; Sung Pil Hong; Tae Il Kim; Won Ho Kim; Jae Hee Cheon Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2013-01-14 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Govind K Makharia; Balakrishnan S Ramakrishna; Philip Abraham; Gourdas Choudhuri; Sri Prakash Misra; Vineet Ahuja; Shobna J Bhatia; Deepak K Bhasin; Sunil Dadhich; Gopal K Dhali; Devendra C Desai; Uday C Ghoshal; B D Goswami; Sanjeev K Issar; Ajay K Jain; Venkataraman Jayanthi; Goundappa Loganathan; C Ganesh Pai; Amarender S Puri; Surinder S Rana; Gautam Ray; Shivaram P Singh; Ajit Sood Journal: Indian J Gastroenterol Date: 2012-10-17