Untreated or inadequately managed ulcerative colitis increases the risk of colon cancer. Furthermore, ulcerative colitis can lead to the following serious complications or extra-intestinal manifestations:
* Thickening and narrowing of the bowel wall (stricture formation)
* Colon perforation
* Severe intestinal bleeding
* Severe dehydration
* Sepsis (blood infection)
* Rarely, liver dysfunction or biliary tract diseases
* Risk of thromboembolism (blood clots)
* Joint inflammations such as spondylitis and sacroiliitis