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Ulcerative colitis risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Overview

Risk factors include a family history of ulcerative colitis, or Jewish ancestry. It may affect any age group, although there are peaks at ages 15 – 30 and then again at ages 50 – 70. It affects men and women equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of people with ulcerative colitis having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. A higher incidence of ulcerative colitis is seen in Whites and people of Jewish descent.[1][2]

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of ulcerative colitis include:[3][4]

References

References

  1. Orholm M, Binder V, Sorensen TI, Rasmussen LP, Kyvik KO. Concordance of inflammatory bowel disease among Danish twins. Results of a nationwide study. Scand J Gastroenterol 2000;35:1075-81. PMID 11099061.
  2. Tysk C, Lindberg E, Jarnerot G, Floderus-Myrhed B (1988). “Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in an unselected population of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. A study of heritability and the influence of smoking”. Gut. 29: 990–996.
  3. Orholm M, Binder V, Sorensen TI, Rasmussen LP, Kyvik KO. Concordance of inflammatory bowel disease among Danish twins. Results of a nationwide study. Scand J Gastroenterol 2000;35:1075-81. PMID 11099061.
  4. Tysk C, Lindberg E, Jarnerot G, Floderus-Myrhed B (1988). “Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in an unselected population of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. A study of heritability and the influence of smoking”. Gut. 29: 990–996.


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