Factors associated with poor outcomes in adults with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis

It is a challenge to accurately identify patients with early stage ulcerative colitis (UC) who are at highest risk for a poor outcome and therefore might require salvage therapy. Several epidemiologic and clinical studies have analyzed factors associated with poor prognosis and increased risk for colectomy. We review prognostic factors for adults with newly diagnosed UC and discuss which patients might benefit from rapid and progressive therapy. Patients with poor prognoses tend to be young nonsmokers with high levels of inflammatory biomarkers, low levels of hemoglobin, and extensive disease, based on colonoscopy. We examine these risk factors in 2 hypothetical patients who have been newly diagnosed with UC.