Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
Incidence, Characteristics, Clinical Course, and Risk Factors of Ulcerative Colitis-related Lung Diseases
Mitsuhiro Moda1, Miyuri Suga2, Shogo Kasai3
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center, Osaka, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japan Community Health Care Organization Tokyo Yamate Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic GI inflammatory disorder involving various extraintestinal organs, including the lungs. Although UC-related lung diseases (UC-LDs) have been widely recognized, much remains unclear.
Research Question:
What are the incidence, characteristics, clinical course, and risk factors of UC-LD?
Study Design And Methods:
This study retrospectively identified and classified UC-LDs by reviewing the medical records of consecutive patients with UC. The incidence, characteristics, and clinical course of each UC-LD type were investigated, and the clinical characteristics of patients with and without each UC-LD type were compared.
Results:
Among 563 patients with UC, 28 (5.0%) developed UC-LD during a mean follow-up period of 77 months. A majority of them displayed airway disease (AD) (n = 13 [2.3%]) or organizing pneumonia (OP) (n = 10 [1.8%]); there were six cases of interstitial pneumonias other than OP (IP) (0.8%) and one of pleuritis (0.2%). All 13 patients with AD responded favorably to inhaled or systemic corticosteroids, although five experienced frequent exacerbations. Older age and a history of colectomy were identified as the risk factors for developing AD. Nine of the 10 cases of OP were possibly due to drug-induced pathogenesis. Only one case showed recurrence, and all cases of OP exhibited a favorable clinical course with discontinuation of the suspicious drug and/or initiation of corticosteroid. The clinical course of IP depended on the existence of fibrosis, and IP with fibrosis was associated with gradual deterioration. Older age was associated with the development of IP.
Interpretation:
A nonnegligible number of patients with UC may develop UC-LD. AD, OP, and IP without fibrosis show good prognosis following steroid therapy along with the specific management for each UC-LD type, whereas IP with fibrosis shows gradual deterioration with poor prognosis. Our results provide cues to establish better management of UC-LDs.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...

