Ulcerative Colitis Clinical Trials

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the rectum and colon, most commonly presenting in late adolescence or early adulthood. The primary treatment approach is pharmacological. Over the past two decades, there has been significant progress in the development of so-called advanced medical therapies, and new drugs in this category continue to emerge. These medications are highly effective for many patients, but not for all. If the first advanced therapy fails or is not tolerated, patients may switch to a second, third, or subsequent drugs. Unfortunately, the likelihood of success decreases with each additional line of therapy. An alternative is surgery, specifically colectomy, which is a potentially curative treatment but may have a major impact on the individual. The overall objective of the study is to evaluate quality of life, functional outcomes, and patient satisfaction among those who choose continued medical therapy, compared to those who undergo colectomy, after at least two failed advanced medical therapies. Before making their treatment decision and enrolling in the study, patients will receive standardized information about all treatment options from a gastroenterologist and a colorectal surgeon. The aim is that the results of this study will provide valuable insights to better guide future patients with ulcerative colitis in choosing between continued advanced medical therapy and surgery.