Clinical outcomes and predictive factors in oral corticosteroid-refractory active ulcerative colitis

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with active ulcerative colitis receiving intravenous corticosteroids after oral corticosteroid therapy failure

	Total patients (n = 67)
Gender (male/female)	39/28 (58.2/41.8)
Age (yr)	35 (13-78)
Age at diagnosis (yr)	31 (11-78)
Disease duration (mo)	24 (0-132)
Disease extent
Proctitis	5 (7.5)
Left-sided colitis	21 (31.3)
Extensive colitis	41 (61.2)
First attack of UC	32 (47.8)
Number of previous flares	2 (1-4)
Initial disease activity
Full Mayo score	9 (5-10)
Partial Mayo score	6 (3-7)
Initial prednisolone dose (mg)
≥ 30 and < 40	35 (52.2)
≥ 40	32 (47.8)
Duration of oral corticosteroid use (d)	13 (3-50)
Maintenance before flare up
None/salicylates/azathioprine	6/47/14
Concomitant medications
Salicylates	53
Azathioprine	14
CRP (mg/dL)	10.9 (0.1-153.0)
ESR (mm/h)	40.0 (3.0-120.0)
Hemoglobin (mg/dL)	11.7 (6.4-16.5)
Albumin (mg/dL)	3.6 (2.3-5.0)

Data are expressed as absolute numbers (percentage) or median. UC: Ulcerative colitis; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.