title: Controlled trial comparing olsalazine and sulphasalazine for the maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis.
abstract: One hundred and sixty four patients with ulcerative colitis in remission were entered into a double blind, double dummy trial comparing olsalazine 500 mg bd and sulphasalazine 1 g bd. Clinical examination, sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy were performed at 0, three, and six months. Sixteen of 82 (19.5%) patients relapsed on olsalazine and 10/82 (12.2%) relapsed on sulphasalazine. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1632). Adverse events were minor and were similar in both groups. No haematological or biochemical abnormalities were detected. Thus, olsalazine is as effective as sulphasalazine for preventing a relapse of ulcerative colitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D012460:Sulfasalazine; C032587:olsalazine