ABSTRACT
The treatment of UC, or simply ulcerative colitis, generally seeks to induce the remission of active disease, maintain remission, prevent complications and provide quality of life to the patient. Patients in mild to moderate activity can be initially treated with sulfasalazine or mesalazine; in general, the doses indicated to induce remission are equivalent to 4 g/day for both drugs. Toxicity appears to be greater with the concomitant use of corticosteroids, and the cessation of this drug is recommended if cyclosporine is introduced. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that, if indicated, parenteral nutrition does not have the purpose of inducing remission, as this is not its effect; it aims to maintain the nutritional status of the patient. This is the rationale for maintenance therapy, in addition to improved quality of life and prevention of dysplasia and cancer, which, according to the ECCO consensus, aims to maintain remission without corticosteroids, defined both clinically and endoscopically.
