Title: Ulcerative Collitis: Beyond the Basics and Customary
Authors: Prof Dr Binay Kumar, Dr Surabhi
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i1.66
Abstract
Background: Involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract by inflammatory bowel disease was thought to be a feature of Crohn's disease, whereas ulcerative colitis was considered to be limited to the colon.
Methods: We studied 7 cases of inflammatory bowel disease over a period of 15 months in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, India, which involved the upper GI tract. Patients presenting with typical symptoms were investigated further. They underwent a an array of tests based on guidelines for confirmatory diagnosis.
Results: Those patients who had colonoscopic findings suggestive of ulcerative colitis and the diagnosis of which was reiterated by other confirmatory tests were subjected to upper GI endoscopy. The cases were positive for fecal calprotectin level and were also pANCA positive. The endoscopic and histopathological exam agreed to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Conclusion: Patients with involvement of upper GI, against the popular belief should have ulcerative colitis in its differential diagnosis.
Keywords: Ulcerative colitis, Endoscopy, Upper Gastrointestinal tract, fecal calprotectin
