A new study suggests that removing the appendix may reduce the risk of flare-ups in patients with ulcerative colitis, a form of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum, accompanied by diarrhea and abdominal pain. There is no cure for the disease, and its symptoms tend to flare up and subside repeatedly, negatively affecting quality of life.
The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, proposes that the appendix plays a role in this by producing inflammatory proteins that trigger immune responses in the body.
The study included 197 adult patients who all received standard medical care. Half of them underwent appendectomy (appendix removal).
Researchers found that after one year, relapse rates were 36% in the appendix removal group compared to 56% in the standard care group.
Additionally, the number of patients in the appendix removal group who later experienced more severe disease requiring treatment with biologic agents was reduced.
There were post-surgery complications in five cases from the appendectomy group, two of which were classified as severe.
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