Ulcerative colitis, the chronic illness from which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suffers, causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine, leading to blood in the stool, diarrhea and abdominal pains.
In some severe cases, sufferers of the illness experience such symptoms as high fever and anemia, which can make conducting normal social activities difficult.
In Japan, there are an estimated 220,000 diagnosed cases of the illness, designated by the government as an incurable disease.
While the illness' cause is unknown, it has been linked to abnormal immune system functions, intestinal bacteria and Westernized dietary habits.
Ulcerative colitis is characterized by a cycle of remission and flare-up. Medicine is administered to defend against flare-ups. However, if that proves ineffective, multiple medications, including doses of steroids, are used to treat various symptoms.
It was also because of this illness that Abe resigned from his post as prime minister in September 2007, before the end of his first Cabinet term. Thanks to the effects of a new medication, however, he was able to continue his administrative duties while keeping his symptoms in check.
At a press conference Friday, Abe explained a recurrence of his symptoms was confirmed in early August. He also revealed that an additional drug was being administered via intravenous drip on top of his existing medication.
"Continuous treatments are necessary and [my condition] does not allow for optimism," Abe said at the press conference.
According to Shiro Nakamura, a professor at Osaka Medical College, the additional drug administered is considered a biological product that directly suppresses the function of inflammation-causing substances. At first, the drug is administered three times to stabilize the symptoms and is then administered every two months while monitoring its effect.
"The symptoms of about half of all patients can be controlled with the first three doses. Treatments for the illness have advanced in recent years and the potential for improvement is increasing," Nakamura said.
Cytapheresis is another form of treatment, in which blood is drawn from the patient. After specific inflammation-causing white blood cells are filtered out, the blood is returned.
In cases in which the medication has no effect, surgical removal of the large intestine could also become necessary.
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