This form of ulcerative colitis is limited to the rectum
Ulcerative proctitis is a condition that affects the rectum.
Symptoms can include blood in the stool, pain in the rectal area, diarrhea, orconstipation.
Ulcerative proctitis is sometimes also called distal proctitis.
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With the area being inflamed, there can be pain when stool moves through it.
Some people will have diarrhea (loose stools), which can happen several times a day.
Needing to go to the bathroom urgently may also be a symptom.
Ulcerative colitis and ulcerative proctitis are often associated with having diarrhea.
How much or how little one person is affected will be different from others with the same diagnosis.
Causes
Thecause of ulcerative proctitis(like ulcerative colitis or IBD in general) is not known.
There are several theories.
The various forms of IBD, including ulcerative proctitis, are thought to be immune-mediated conditions.
Its thought that there must also be something else that occurs, one or more environmental triggers.
This is something that causes a disruption in the balance of the bacteria that naturally live in the colon.
This may lead to the lining of the intestine becoming ulcerated.
Biopsies (small pieces of tissue) are also taken during an endoscopy.
The biopsies can be studied to see what changes are taking place in the cells.
The long-term goal is to keep the inflammation from coming back.
Medications that act topically (applied to a localized area) on the rectum may be tried first.
If a topical medication doesnt work, a 5-ASA or a corticosteroid medication may also be given orally.
However, these may not be as effective for some patients and may also be associated with side effects.
Its also possible that a steroid may not be effective in calming the inflammation.
Rarely, an immunomodulator, such as cyclosporine, might be tried.
There is not much evidence for using other types of medications or complementary or alternative treatments.
Surgery is not usually used to treat ulcerative proctitis.
If surgery is considered, acolectomy, which is the removal of the colon, would be done.
Without a colon,an alternative way of stool leaving the bodymust be created.
This is anileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), or a j-pouch.
After this surgery, stool is moved out through the anus.
Prognosis
IBD is a chronic illness.
Ulcerative colitis can be a progressive disease.
That is, it may begin as ulcerative proctitis, where inflammation is limited to the rectum.
However, other parts of the colon may be involved and become inflamed over time.
Of people with ulcerative colitis, about 30 percent to 60 percent of them are diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis.
Some people with ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
This increased risk is not shown in people with ulcerative proctitis.
However, many people are able to get the disease into remission.
Learning more about the condition and how to manage it is important.
Agastroenterologist(a specialist in digestive system diseases) will be the most important source of information.
Connecting with other patients through support groups or patient advocacy groups is also helpful.
Learning from people who have been living with ulcerative proctitis for some time will be helpful.
Stress can affect people in various ways and sometimes lead to feeling symptoms feeling heightened.
Being patient and working with a mental health professional, if needed, may be helpful.
There are psychologists who specialize in working with patients with chronic conditions or digestive diseases.
Summary
Ulcerative proctitis is a form of ulcerative colitis that causes inflammation to occur in the rectum.
It is a chronic disorder that can cause symptoms to come and go.
Regular medical care from agastroenterologistwill be part of managing the disease.
Many treatments can help get the inflammation into remission and prevent it from getting worse.
There will be a need to work with healthcare professionals to monitor the condition.
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