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The clinical presentation of ulcerative colitis at the moment of diagnosis is variable, and its clinical course is difficult to predict. It can range from a quiescent to a refractory chronic course that may require hospitalization and surgical procedures. It can also have complications such as colorectal cancer. In this review we discuss the role of demographic, clinical, endoscopic, histological and associated factors, which can help to predict the clinical course of the disease at the moment of diagnosis, and to individualize therapy according to this clinical risk. Accurate identification of patients with a newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis who are at high risk of an unfavorable outcome is still a challenge. However, an effective evaluation allows an early diagnosis, a timely and effective treatment.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires early recognition, hospitalization and adequate treatment. Currently, the use of infliximab in ulcerative colitis (UC) is recommended in the case of severe disease refractory to corticosteroids, once that superimposed bacterial or viral infections (such as cytomegalovirus or Clostridium difficile) have been excluded. However, conventional weight-based regimens of infliximab might be insufficient for patients with ASUC. Accelerated infliximab induction regimen may increase its serum concentration levels and efficacy by reducing early colectomy rates in these patients. We report a 34 year old female presenting with an ASUC. She was initially treated with hydrocortisone 300 mg/day and mesalazine enemas 4 g/day with an unfavorable clinical response. At the fifth day of therapy, an accelerated induction therapy with infliximab was started in doses of 10 mg/kg at weeks 0, 1 and 4. After the second dose, there was a favorable response with reduction of abdominal pain, stool frequency and hematochezia. She was discharged with prednisone and azathioprine. After a year of starting infliximab, the patient remains in clinical remission.

Background: The chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, the extra-intestinal manifestations of the disease and the immunosuppressive treatment of inflammatory bowel disease may increase cancer risk. Aim: To report the demographic and clinical features of patients with IBD who developed a malignant tumor. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of an IBD patient registry of a private clinic, diagnosed between 1976 and 2014. Results: 437 subjects were included, aged 15–88 years (58% women). Seventy two percent of patients had ulcerative colitis. The median time of follow up was 6 years. Ten patients (2.3%) developed a malignant tumor. In four, the tumor could be related to IBD (two colorectal cancers, one cholangiocarcinoma and one chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)). Two of 45 patients treated with biological therapy developed a tumor (CML and hypernephroma). Three of 170 patients on immunosuppressive treatment developed tumors. Only one had a tumor possibly related with the use of azathioprine (non-melanoma skin cancer). In only two patients, the treatment was changed at the time of their cancer diagnosis, from immunosuppressive medications to mesalamine. Conclusions: Only a small proportion of these patients with IBD developed a malignant tumor. The treatment of IBD has to be determined by the severity of the disease and not by the fear of developing a neoplasia. Following recommendations is fundamental to decrease the possibility of developing this complication.

The incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has increased, particularly in the developed world, and probably also in Chile. Aim: To report our experience with a large group of patients from two medical centers, Hospital Clinico de la Universidad de Chile (HCUCH) and Clinica Las Condes (CLC) and to characterize the clinical features of IBD in Chile. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of 238 patients with IBD (age range 14-78 years, 143 women) treated at HCUCH and CLC between January 1990 and August 2002. Results: One hundred eighty one patients had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 57 had Crohn's disease (CD), with an UC/CD ratio of 3.2/1. Forty eight percent of patients were aged between 20 and 39 years old and 69% were diagnosed after 1995. Patients from HCUCH had more severe disease, more complications and needed surgery more often. Conclusions: Clinical features of Chilean patients with IBD are similar to those of other countries. UC is more common than EC. There is a higher proportion of women with the disease. The severity of the disease was higher among HCUCH