| Theme |
Current Therapy of IBD |
| Title |
Administration of Glucocorticosteroids for Active Ulcerative Colitis Patients |
| Author |
Toshifumi Ashida |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital |
| Author |
Atsuo Maemoto |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital |
| Author |
Fumika Orii |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital |
| Author |
Shigeru Furukawa |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital |
| Author |
Katsuya Einami |
Hakodate Kyokai Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Among the treatment strategies for active ulcerative colitis, administration of glucocorticosteroids (GC) plays a key role as a first line therapy. With intravenous administration of GC for severe UC, or oral administration for mild to moderate conditions, we can expect high rates of efficacy, with 60-70 % remission rates. However for severe cases we must carefully evaluate the condition in its early stages (3-7 days) to decide whether we have to switch to other alternative therapies such as Infliximab, Tacrolimus, or Cyclosporine. Supraphysiological dose administration of GC (pulse therapy) has not been adequately proven to recommend it at this time. The guidelines used in Japan and Western countries indicate that maintenance administration of GC should not be employed for UC treatment. |