Ulcerative Colitis in Elderly Patients:
The Importance of Staged Treatment
From restoring digestive function to the complete normalization of inflammation levels
A Case Study of a Patient in Their Late 60s
Hello, this is HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic, where we have been researching and treating ulcerative colitis since 2007. While ulcerative colitis was once known as a disease of the younger generation, the number of middle-aged and elderly patients has been increasing rapidly in recent years.
The patient introduced today is in their late 60s; after being diagnosed in 2023, they tried various methods, including Western medication and acupressure, but symptoms did not improve, leading them to visit our clinic.
Main Symptoms at Time of Visit
- Bowel Movements: Watery diarrhea 7-8 times a day, feeling of incomplete evacuation, and fecal urgency
- Digestive System: Loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, frequent stomatitis
- Other: Pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, symptoms of rhinitis
Treatment Protocol and Progress
Digestive Treatment and Inflammation Improvement
With an inflammation level (Calprotectin) confirmed at 5759, we initially prescribed treatment focused on restoring digestive function. The patient showed progress with improvements in bowel movement frequency and appetite.
Transition to Staged Prescription
When a treatment plateau was reached, we decisively removed the previous digestive medication and switched to a prescription focused on treating inflammation, successfully gaining full control over the symptoms.
Treatment Concluded
Fecal inflammation levels normalized to below 3.8, and the patient discontinued all Western medication. This is a case that demonstrates the importance of staged treatment.