Cortisone in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

In a preliminary report (Truelove and Witts, 1954) we have given the immediate results of a controlled trial of cortisone in the treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis. In the present paper it is intended to fill in some of the details about the immediate results and to report on the subsequent progress of the patients. The trial was confined to typical cases of chronic ulcerative colitis which would normally be expected to require at least six weeks' treatment in hospital, and patients with regional colitis, ileitis, or proctitis were not included. A total of 213 patients received treatment. Of these, three have been rejected from the analysis of results for the following reasons: one patient proved to be suffering from carcinoma of the colon, one had had a colostomy, and in the third the records were inadequate. Of the remaining 210 patietts, 109 received cortisone and 101 received the dummy preparation. Diagnosis.-The diagnosis was established by the following criteria: (1) History. (2) Character of stools. (3) Sigmoidoscopy (in very ill patients, proctoscopy was regarded as sufficient). (4) Barium enema, except when the patient was gravely ill. (5) Absence of known pathogens in the stools.

Pulmonary function in patients with ulcerative colitis and its relationship with disease severity

“…Patients with active disease were classified as mild, moderate, or severe as per Truelove score 22. This score includes stool frequency, occurrence of blood in stools, fever, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).…”

Toxic megacolon and human Cytomegalovirus in a series of severe ulcerative colitis patients

“…In our unit since 1975, all the patients admitted for severe ulcerative colitis were evaluated clinically with the Truelove and Witts criteria [8] and with a plain X-ray of the abdomen to evaluate the diameter of the transverse colon. Patient was diagnosed to have megacolon if the diameter of the transverse colon was >6 cm.…”

Alterations in the Composition of the Supramucosal Defense Barrier in Relation to Disease Severity of Ulcerative Colitis

“…Biopsies were taken from the rectosigmoid region at an area of maximal endoscopic disease but where intact mucosa appeared to exist. The patients recruited for the study were classified into clinical disease severity according to the Truelove and Witts (1955) criteria with hematological, biochemical, and physiological markers available from the routine investigation and management of those in-patients with UC.…”

“…Of the 40 patients with active UC, 13 were classified as clinically mild UC, 11 with moderate disease, and 16 with severe colitis (Truelove and Witts 1955). The cohort consisted of 15 female and 25 male patients with a median age of 40.5 years (range: 20-83 years) (Table 5).…”