Acute moderate to severe ulcerative colitis treated by traditional Chinese medicine: A case report

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC), also known as chronic nonspecific UC, is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by diffuse colonic mucosal inflammation. The incidence and prevalence of UC have risen markedly, and the disease seriously affects the quality of life of patients and imposes a great burden on the world health care infrastructure and economy. CASE SUMMARY: Case I describes a 34-year-old female who came to see a doctor because of repeated abdominal pain, diarrhoea and purulent blood for 2 mo. This patient had UC with an initial onset, an active stage and a wide range of lesions. After the poor effect of sulfasalazine and mesalazine, the patient's condition gradually deteriorated, her abdominal pain and bloody stools continued, and anemia occurred. She began treatment with the Chinese medicine Guizhi Dahuang decoction, which was taken orally twice a day, 200 mL each time. After 6 mo of treatment, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloody stool and other symptoms disappeared. No abnormality was found by repeat electronic enteroscopye, and the anemia was corrected. The patient's condition did not recur after nearly 4 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: A series of symptoms in this UC patient significantly improved with the administration of traditional Chinese medicine.