Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the 184 patients
| Median (IQR) age at entry | 38.5 (29–50) years |
| Male: female (n) | 99: 85 |
| Median (IQR) duration of UC before entry | 33 (22–45) months |
| Extent of UC (n) | |
| Proctosigmoiditis | 35 (19%) |
| Left-sided colitis | 119 (65%) |
| Extensive colitisa | 30 (16%) |
| Extraintestinal manifestations (n) | |
| Arthritis | 8 (4%) |
| Erythema nodosum/pyoderma gangrenosum | 2 (1%) |
| Induction therapy for the current exacerbation (n) | |
| Mesalazine (Pentasa 4 g/day) | 174 (95%) |
| Corticosteroids (Prednisolone 30–60 mg/day) | 149 (81%) |
| Thiopurines (Azathioprine 50–100 mg/day) | 39 (21%) |
| Calcineurin inhibitors | 0 |
| Biologics | 0 |
| Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) at entry | |
| MES 2 | 158 (86%) |
| MES 3 | 26 (14%) |
IQR interquartile rage, UC ulcerative colitis
aInvolvement extends proximal to the splenic flexure