Time to include patients with ulcerative proctitis in clinical trials

Ulcerative colitis is characterised by chronic inflammation of the rectal and colonic mucosa. The extent of inflammation varies widely from proctitis to extensive colitis with continuous lesions. At the time of diagnosis, 25–55% of patients with ulcerative colitis present with ulcerative proctitis. 1 Pineton de Chambrun G Tassy B Kollen L et al. The treatment of refractory ulcerative colitis. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2018; 32–33: 49-57 Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Ulcerative proctitis is generally assumed to be a benign form of ulcerative colitis that is easy to treat with local or oral 5-aminosalicylates, with no increased risk of colorectal cancer.