Severity of disease In addition to the extent of involvement, UC is also characterized by severity of disease. Severity of disease is defined by symptoms, objective markers of inflammation (endoscopic findings, blood tests), disease course, and the impact of the disease on day-to-day life. Most patients are categorized through endoscopy and fecal calprotectin levels. Indicators of low risk for future complications in mild and moderate UC include the following parameters: exhibiting less than 6 stools daily and lack of fever/weight loss. Other indicators include lack of extraintestinal symptoms, low levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and fecal calprotectin, and later age of diagnosis (over 40 years). Mild disease correlates with fewer than four stools daily; in addition, mild urgency and rectal bleeding may occur intermittently. Mild disease lacks systemic signs of toxicity (e.g. fever, chills, weight changes) and exhibits normal levels of the serum inflammatory markers ESR and CRP.
Severity of disease In addition to the extent of involvement UC is also characterized by severity of disease Severity of disease is defined by symptoms objective markers of inflammation (endoscopic findings blood tests) disease course and the impact of the disease on day-to-day life Most patients are categorized through endoscopy and fecal calprotectin levels Indicators of low risk for future complications in mild and moderate UC include the following parameters exhibiting less than 6 stools daily and lack of fever/weight loss Other indicators include lack of extraintestinal symptoms low levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and fecal calprotectin and later age of diagnosis (over 40 years) Mild disease correlates with fewer than four stools daily; in addition mild urgency and rectal bleeding may occur intermittently Mild disease lacks systemic signs of toxicity (eg fever chills weight changes) and exhibits normal levels of the serum inflammatory markers ESR and CRP