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Natural History of Ulcerative Colitis in Children

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Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Abstract

Defining the natural history of a chronic disease is made difficult by the continuously changing landscape of available therapies, earlier recognition of disease by more sensitive diagnostic techniques, and changes in intrinsic biological behavior. The natural history of ulcerative colitis following therapy with aminosalicylates and corticosteroids as were used in the 1960s and 1970s would be expected to differ from that following the current widespread use of immunomodulators and biological therapy. The data presented in this chapter reflect what we know of natural history now, and will likely be different than what we might describe in 10 years. Discussion of drugs will mostly focus mainly on maintenance of remission. Lastly, possible methodology to predict response to therapy and alter natural history will be addressed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology & Nutrition, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA

    Jeffrey S. Hyams MD

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  1. Jeffrey S. Hyams MD
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Correspondence to Jeffrey S. Hyams MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, 34th St. & Civic Ctr. Blvd., Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Petar Mamula

  2. School of Medicine--Greenville, Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, University of South Carolina, 200 Patewood Drive, Suite A-140, Greenville, 29615, South Carolina, USA

    Jonathan E. Markowitz

  3. Perelman School of Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, 34th St. & Civic Ctr. Blvd., Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Robert N. Baldassano

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Hyams, J.S. (2013). Natural History of Ulcerative Colitis in Children. In: Mamula, P., Markowitz, J., Baldassano, R. (eds) Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5061-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5061-0_8

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5061-0

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