title: Is continuous sulfasalazine necessary in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis? Results of a preliminary study.
abstract: The efficacy of continuous and "on-demand" sulfasalazine in the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis was tested in a randomized trial. Patients were reviewed at four monthly intervals for one year. Twenty-eight patients completed the trial. Ten took continuous sulfasalazine and three relapsed, while 18 took "on-demand" sulfasalazine and seven relapsed (N.S.). Rectal biopsies from each patient group were compared at each attendance, and no significant difference in histologic score was found. It is concluded that "on-demand" sulfasalazine may be as effective as continuous sulfasalazine in the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wight
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D012460:Sulfasalazine