Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsComparisonAbout ColitisAbout ProctitisDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Comparison
About Colitis
About Proctitis
Diagnosis
Treatment
Ulcerative proctitis (UP) is a form of ulcerative colitis (UC). Both are types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But while proctitis affects only the rectum, ulcerative colitis can affect the rectum and other parts of the colon. Proctitis causes milder symptoms like rectal bleeding and urgency, whereas ulcerative colitis may result in more severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss.
The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is poorly understood. Treatment for these conditions depends on the severity of the disease. For ulcerative proctitis, treatment may only involve topical medication applied to the rectum. Oral corticosteroid medications can ease inflammation in both conditions.
Andrey Shevchuk / Getty Images
Similarities and Differences
The two conditions have some key differences:
They also share some similarities:
Can You Have Proctitis Without Ulcerative Colitis?
Overview of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis can be classified into several types based on the affected location in the colon and the extent of inflammation. Types of ulcerative colitis include:
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis may start slowly or suddenly. Some people only have mild symptoms. Others have frequent and severe flare-ups.
Symptoms can include:
People with ulcerative colitis face a higher risk of developing small bowel and colon cancer. They may also experience various complications, such as severe infections, colon perforations, and toxic megacolon—a life-threatening condition in which the colon rapidly enlarges within a few days.
Overview of Ulcerative Proctitis
Approximately 30% of people with ulcerative colitis have ulcerative proctitis.Ulcerative proctitis often progresses over time, however. About 27% to 54% of people with ulcerative proctitis eventually develop ulcerative colitis.
Research shows people with UP who have one or more symptom flares in the first year following diagnosis are most likely to develop UC over time.
Ulcerative proctitis symptoms tend to be less widespread compared to those in ulcerative colitis. They also tend to be more localized to the rectum.
The most common UP symptoms are:
Unlike UC, ulcerative proctitis does not increase the risk of colon cancer.
What Triggers Ulcerative Proctitis?
Ulcerative colitis is diagnosed through a series of steps, starting with a detailed medical history, including the duration and severity of symptoms. Doctors also check for signs outside the colon, like mouth ulcers or joint pain, and rule out infections.
The key diagnostic tool is an examination of the rectum and/or colon. Visual inspection and biopsy of tissue samples help determine if you have ulcerative colitis and how much of the colon is affected. If only the rectum is involved, it may be diagnosed as ulcerative proctitis; if more of the colon is affected, another form of UC could be at play.
Tests that might be done include:
The treatment used for ulcerative colitis will depend on several factors. One of these is the extensiveness of the disease.
The treatments for ulcerative proctitis might be different from those for other diseases affecting more of the colon. Medications for ulcerative proctitis might be given topically (applied directly to the area being treated).
Treatment options might include:
What Is the Life Expectancy With Ulcerative Proctitis?Most people with ulcerative proctitis have a full life expectancy. While the disease can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications, many people can still live healthy lives, especially if they manage their condition well with proper treatment.
What Is the Life Expectancy With Ulcerative Proctitis?
Most people with ulcerative proctitis have a full life expectancy. While the disease can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications, many people can still live healthy lives, especially if they manage their condition well with proper treatment.
Summary
Ulcerative colitis includes ulcerative proctitis as well as forms of colitis affecting other areas of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis often presents with bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain, while ulcerative proctitis symptoms may be more limited to the rectum.
The underlying cause for either condition is unclear. Diagnosis for both is made through a history, physical examination, and imaging. Medications used in treatment are similar, although topical forms may be used for ulcerative proctitis.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Types of ulcerative colitis.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Michalopoulis G, Karmiris K.When disease extent is not always a key parameter: Management of refractory ulcerative proctitis.Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Disc. 2022;3(1):100071. doi:10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100071BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of proctitis.Yale Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Ungar B, Kopylov U.Long-term outcome of ulcerative proctitis.United European Gastroenterol J. 2020 Oct;8(8):847–848. doi:10.1177/2050640620948795Huguet J, Ferrer-Barceló L, Suárez P, et al.Endoscopic progression of ulcerative proctitis to proximal disease. Can we identify predictors of progression?.Scand J Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov;53(10-11):1286-1290. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1524026Northwestern Medicine.What is ulcerative colitis?.Wu XR, Liu XL, Katz S, Shen B.Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of ulcerative proctitis, chronic radiation proctopathy, and diversion proctitis.Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(3):703-715. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000227.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Types of ulcerative colitis.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Michalopoulis G, Karmiris K.When disease extent is not always a key parameter: Management of refractory ulcerative proctitis.Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Disc. 2022;3(1):100071. doi:10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100071BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of proctitis.Yale Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Ungar B, Kopylov U.Long-term outcome of ulcerative proctitis.United European Gastroenterol J. 2020 Oct;8(8):847–848. doi:10.1177/2050640620948795Huguet J, Ferrer-Barceló L, Suárez P, et al.Endoscopic progression of ulcerative proctitis to proximal disease. Can we identify predictors of progression?.Scand J Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov;53(10-11):1286-1290. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1524026Northwestern Medicine.What is ulcerative colitis?.Wu XR, Liu XL, Katz S, Shen B.Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of ulcerative proctitis, chronic radiation proctopathy, and diversion proctitis.Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(3):703-715. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000227.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Types of ulcerative colitis.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Michalopoulis G, Karmiris K.When disease extent is not always a key parameter: Management of refractory ulcerative proctitis.Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Disc. 2022;3(1):100071. doi:10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100071BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of proctitis.Yale Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.Ungar B, Kopylov U.Long-term outcome of ulcerative proctitis.United European Gastroenterol J. 2020 Oct;8(8):847–848. doi:10.1177/2050640620948795Huguet J, Ferrer-Barceló L, Suárez P, et al.Endoscopic progression of ulcerative proctitis to proximal disease. Can we identify predictors of progression?.Scand J Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov;53(10-11):1286-1290. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1524026Northwestern Medicine.What is ulcerative colitis?.Wu XR, Liu XL, Katz S, Shen B.Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of ulcerative proctitis, chronic radiation proctopathy, and diversion proctitis.Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(3):703-715. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000227.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Types of ulcerative colitis.
Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.
Michalopoulis G, Karmiris K.When disease extent is not always a key parameter: Management of refractory ulcerative proctitis.Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Disc. 2022;3(1):100071. doi:10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100071
BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of proctitis.
Yale Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.
Ungar B, Kopylov U.Long-term outcome of ulcerative proctitis.United European Gastroenterol J. 2020 Oct;8(8):847–848. doi:10.1177/2050640620948795
Huguet J, Ferrer-Barceló L, Suárez P, et al.Endoscopic progression of ulcerative proctitis to proximal disease. Can we identify predictors of progression?.Scand J Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov;53(10-11):1286-1290. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1524026
Northwestern Medicine.What is ulcerative colitis?.
Wu XR, Liu XL, Katz S, Shen B.Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of ulcerative proctitis, chronic radiation proctopathy, and diversion proctitis.Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(3):703-715. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000227.
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