Disorders - Ulcerative Colitis

Through his Reston, Virginia-based private practice, Dr. Soloman Shah delivers expert gastroenterological care to patients with ulcerative colitis and a variety of other issues. A highly trained MD, Dr. Soloman Shah completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Hospital. 



A chronic condition impacting the large intestine, ulcerative colitis is characterized by persistent inflammation in bowel tissues, and more rarely, in tissues of the eyes and joints. Researchers do not yet entirely understand what gives rise to ulcerative colitis, though they believe that it results from a confluence of environmental, immune-system, and genetic factors. 



During flare-ups, patients with ulcerative colitis may experience abnormal urgency to use the bathroom. In roughly a tenth of cases, this urgency can be quite severe and be accompanied by fevers and blood in the stool. Other symptoms include weight loss and anemia. 

MDs have yet to discover a cure for ulcerative colitis, though they can prescribe drugs to help patients manage symptoms or even induce remission. For patients whose disease does not respond to more conservative treatments, surgery to remove the colon is an option.

AGA Partners with Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for New Conference

With an MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School, Dr. Soloman Shah has spent nearly two decades as a gastrointestinal and internal medicine physician with Gastrointestinal Medical Associates in Reston, Virginia. In an effort to remain in contact with fellow colleagues across the country and learn about new treatments in GI medicine, Dr. Soloman Shah, MD, holds membership with the American Gastroenterological Association.

In a joint effort with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, the American Gastroenterological Association will hold the inaugural Crohn’s and Colitis Congress next January in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will serve as the flagship meeting for all topics related to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and serve as a convergence point for professionals in these fields to network with one another and keep up with current trends in treatment. 

The Crohn’s and Colitis Congress will focus on IBD topics that put the patient first, dealing with the challenges and hurdles that currently exist in this area of medicine, both clinically and socially. The conference will also serve as the confluence of the most innovative techniques in treatment and a platform for the most forward-thinking research.

Common Liver Diseases

Soloman Shah, MD, is a physician at Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates in Fairfax, Virginia. For more than 15 years, Dr. Soloman Shah has focused on treating patients who have liver conditions.

There are more than 100 recognized liver diseases that can impact people of all ages. Some liver conditions, such as liver cancer and fatty liver disease, are linked to external factors like chronic alcoholism and obesity. Viruses such as hepatitis A, B, and C are common and can have devastating effects on the liver. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water, while hepatitis B and C are transmitted through bodily fluids. Vaccines exist for hepatitis A and B, but not for the C strain of the virus. In severe cases, a person with hepatitis C may require a liver transplant.

Cirrhosis is another common liver ailment. It typically stems from the damage caused by viral hepatitis, chronic alcoholism, or other existing liver conditions. The effects of these diseases can cause the liver to develop blockages that reduce blood flow and impede metabolic processes. There are a range of treatments for cirrhosis that vary according to its severity and root cause.