Medical therapy for UC is limited to sulfasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), corticosteroids, and azathioprine (AZA). Refractory patients may be hospitalized and treated with IV glucocorticoids and occasionally intravenous (IV) cyclosporine. The latter is associated with a significant toxicity, and the long-term results have been variable. Arguably, the most significant advance in the treatment of UC in the past 2 decades has been the development and expanded use of the proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) formation.
1 Although most UC patients with an IPAA do…