There is broad support for the hypothesis that Ulcerative colitis is an auto-immune disease.
Rituximab is an antibody protein that removes a subgroup of white blood cells (B lymphocytes)
from the circulation. These cells have the capacity to generate the auto-antibodies that
typify auto-immune disease. Although Rituximab has been mainly used for treating B lymphocyte
malignancies (lymphoma) it has also been used with promising results in Rheumatoid arthritis
and has an excellent safety record. This is a small placebo-controlled trial to assess its
efficacy and safety in patients with steroid-resistant active ulcerative colitis.