溃疡性结肠炎((结肠炎溃疡,,,,UC)是炎症性肠病(IBD)的一种形式。溃疡性结肠炎是结肠炎,一种结肠疾病(大肠),包括特征性溃疡或开放性疮。活动疾病的主要症状通常是持续的腹泻与血液混合,逐渐发作。IBD通常与肠易激综合症(IBS)混淆,这是一个麻烦但不那么严重的状况。溃疡性结肠炎与克罗恩氏病(Crohn's Disision)具有相似之处,克罗恩氏病(Crohn's Disision)是另一种IBD形式。溃疡性结肠炎是一种间歇性疾病,患有恶化的症状,并且具有相对无症状的时期。尽管溃疡性结肠炎的症状有时会自行减少,但这种疾病通常需要治疗才能缓解。在美国,每10万人发生溃疡性结肠炎,每100,000人发生,占人口的0.1%。该疾病在世界北部国家以及各个国家或其他地区的北部地区更为普遍。尽管溃疡性结肠炎尚无已知原因,但仍有遗传成分具有易感性。 The disease may be triggered in a susceptible person by environmental factors. Although dietary modification may reduce the discomfort of a person with the disease, ulcerative colitis is not thought to be caused by dietary factors. Ulcerative colitis is treated as an autoimmune disease. Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppression, and biological therapy targeting specific components of the immune response. Colectomy (partial or total removal of the large bowel through surgery) is occasionally necessary, and is considered to be a cure for the disease.