Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the large bowel affecting more than 50,000 people in the UK, of whom around 40% will experience a relapse annually, with up to 25% requiring total colectomy in their lifetime. Reducing relapse and progression is a priority for patients. UC patients can be treated effectively with medical therapy, either with maintenance therapy (preventing disease relapse with 5-ASA tablet medication) or breakthrough therapy (treating active disease relapses). However, even on maintenance therapy the annual disease relapse rate is around 40% which will require escalation to high dose steroid medication with its incumbent risks and toxicity.
Research has shown that the appendix may have an affect the activity of UC. Several small studies in patients with active UC have found that appendicectomy reduces relapse, hospitalisation and medication usage, with the potential to impact the need for future major surgery.
The aim of the ACCURE-UK 2 study evaluate the short- and medium-term effectiveness of appendicectomy in maintaining remission in adult patients with an established diagnosis of UC, who are currently in remission.