Treatment of Patients with Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Middle East Expert Consensus

Abstract

The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the Middle East is increasing, impacting the economic and healthcare burden. The management of patients with mild to moderate UC is still a challenge as several factors can affect optimal care, including drug choice, induction and maintenance dose, treatment optimization and de-escalation, therapy duration, monitoring, and safety profile. We conducted an expert consensus to standardize the management of patients with mild to moderate UC. Sixteen experts in inflammatory bowel diseases, through a well-established and accepted Delphi methodology, voted and approved eight statements in order to provide practical guidance to clinicians in the Middle East.

Keywords

• 5-ASA
• mesalazine
• budesonide MMX
• ulcerative colitis
• inflammatory bowel disease