Abstract
A total of 58 consecutive cases of ulcerative colitis over the past eight years was anali-zed in terms of prognostic characteristics with onset at adolescence or older group. These cases were divided into three groups according to the age of onset ; younger group, intermediate group and older group.
The death rate was highest and the recurrence rate was lowest in the older group. The older group was more severe in disease activity, prone to extend proximally, and the course was more continuous or fulminant in nature, compared to the intermediate group. However, there was no definite difference compared to the younger group. The incidence of surgery of the older group was significantly higher than the intermedibte group, but no statistical difference was found compared to the younger group.
There were no significant changes noted among three groups in respect to the incidence of the extent of disease, systemic complications, the effects of medication, and hospitaliza-tion.
