Joints. Inflammation causes arthritis and stiffness in the joints.
Bones. Low body weight and calcium loss from corticosteroids contribute to osteoporosis (bone loss). However, ulcerative colitis itself causes less bone loss than Crohn’s disease.
 | Click the icon to see an image of osteoporosis. |
Heart. People with IBD have more than three times the risk of developing pericarditis (inflammation of the sac enclosing the heart) than healthy people
Anemia. UC poses a higher than normal risk for anemia.
Liver and Gallbladder Disorders. People have a higher than average risk for mild but not severe liver abnormalities. There is a higher risk (although rare) for primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is persistent inflammation of the bile duct that can later cause serious obstruction.
Skin Disorders. Patients with UC have a higher risk for skin disorders and may experience ulcer eruptions called pyoderma gangrenosum that heal in the center and spread.
Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). People with UC are at higher risk for blood clots, especially in the legs and pelvic area.
 | Click the icon to see an image depicting a thrombus. |
Kidney Disorders. People with UC have a higher than normal risk for kidney stones.
 | Click the icon to see an image of kidney stones. |
Lung Involvement. Lung involvement may develop but it can progress for years without symptoms.
Mouth Sores. There is a slightly higher than average risk for mouth sores and infections in UC, but they are uncommon and lower than those with Crohn's disease.
Delayed Growth and Development in Children. Children with UC are at slightly higher than average risk for delayed growth, but their risk is lower than the risk is for people with Crohn's disease.
Fertility. Fertility rates in women are close to normal, but UC surgery can increase the risk for infertility. Prematurity rates are high with both types of IBD.
Hodgkin's Disease. Patients with UC are at higher risk for Hodgkin's disease, according to a 2000 Italian study. The risk of other cancers was not increased, however.
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