Other Complications

Other Complications

Ulcerative colitis is associated with important complications in parts of the body unconnected with the colon. Inflammation may involve the spine and large joints (arthritis). Serious skin ulcerations may occur. A serious liver disease, sclerosing cholangitis, occurs in a small number of people with ulcerative colitis. All of these complications involve inflammation and the immune system just like in the colon. Some of these complications improve with successful treatment of the colitis, others do not.