Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the 184 patients
Median (IQR) age at entry | 38.5 (29–50) years |
Male: female (n) | 99: 85 |
Median (IQR) duration of UC before entry | 33 (22–45) months |
Extent of UC (n) | |
 Proctosigmoiditis | 35 (19%) |
 Left-sided colitis | 119 (65%) |
 Extensive colitisa | 30 (16%) |
Extraintestinal manifestations (n) | |
 Arthritis | 8 (4%) |
 Erythema nodosum/pyoderma gangrenosum | 2 (1%) |
Induction therapy for the current exacerbation (n) | |
 Mesalazine (Pentasa 4 g/day) | 174 (95%) |
 Corticosteroids (Prednisolone 30–60 mg/day) | 149 (81%) |
 Thiopurines (Azathioprine 50–100 mg/day) | 39 (21%) |
 Calcineurin inhibitors | 0 |
 Biologics | 0 |
Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) at entry | |
 MES 2 | 158 (86%) |
 MES 3 | 26 (14%) |