Objective   To analyze the clinical

endoscopic

and pathological features of aged patients with ulcerative colitis and the difference between the aged and non-aged patients.   Methods   The clinical

endoscopic

and pathological data from 349 ulcerative colitis patients admitted in Huadong Hospital from January 2000 to December 2008 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: aged group (≥60 years) and non-aged group (＜60 years).   Results   Of the 349 patients

68 patients were classified as aged group [male to female: 1.19∶1

mean age: (68.54±7.16) years old]. The other 281 patients were classified as non-aged group [male to female: 1.15∶1

mean age: (42.38±10.88) years old]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of clinical manifestations such as diarrhea

celialgia and hemafecia

etc. (P0.05) between the two groups. The disease of aged patients was less severe than that of the non-aged patients (P0.05). The lesions of the aged patients were more located at the rectum

sigmoid colon

and left hemicolon

but no significant difference in the extent of disease was found between the two groups (P0.05). The occurrence of dysplasia in the aged patients was higher than that in the non-aged patients (P0.05).   Conclusion   The degree of severity of the aged patients with ulcerative colitis is comparatively mild

but the occurrence of dysplasia is more frequent.