December 2015 Vol. 3 No.12

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Original Research Article

Ulcerative colitis in Albania: Clinical and endoscopic correlations

Ilir Bibolli^1*, Jonida Uku¹, Bajram Begaj² and Liri Çuko1

¹Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”, Tirana, Albania
²Department of Gastroenterology, Military Hospital, Tirana, Albania

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: ilirbibolli@yahoo.com

Accepted November 30, 2015

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of unknown cause, characterized by ulceration of the colon and rectum mucosa with rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Frequently causes anemia, hypoproteinemia and electrolyte imbalance, and is also less frequently complicated by peritonitis, toxic megacolon or colon carcinoma (Danese and Fiocchi, 2011). The goal of this review is to analyze the most affected age and clinical presentations related to age groups; the relationship between age, clinical activity of the disease, hemorrhage and endoscopic findings and to define the correlation between age and disease evolution. This is a retrospective five years study, based on medical cards, which includes 100 patients with ulcerative colitis hospitalized in the University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”, in the Gastroenterology department. Ulcerative colitis is active age pathology, with an average age of 49.7 years. Rectal bleeding correlates with endoscopic extension of the disease. Pancolitis is mostly found in severe clinical presentations, although it is present in 18-26% in moderate forms of ulcerative colitis. The pathology is located in the rectum in 14-16% of the severe clinical presentations. Pseudopolyps are common in every age group, while atrophy and colon cancer are characteric in patients older than 40. There are reciprocal correlations between clinical presentation and endoscopic findings. Age is an important factor affecting clinical activity, endoscopic findings and disease evolution.

Keywords: Age groups, endoscopic findings, evolution disease, pancolitis, rectal bleeding, ulcerative colitis