title: 5-Aminosalicylic acid enemas in treatment of distal ulcerative colitis and proctitis in Canada.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of 4 g 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enemas were assessed in 59 patients with ulcerative colitis involving up to 50 cm of their distal colon. Twenty-nine patients received 5-ASA and 30 received a placebo. There were 12 dropouts (five in the active and seven in the placebo group) during the study because of insufficient efficacy. After six weeks of therapy, 63% of the patients receiving the 5-ASA were considered to be "much improved" by the study physician compared to 20% patients on placebo (P less than 0.0001). A disease activity index (DAI), based upon patient symptoms and sigmoidoscopic appearance, was used to assess efficacy. Mean DAI declined 75% for patients on 5-ASA enemas and 32% for patients on placebo (P less than 0.05). The 5-ASA enemas are well tolerated and are of benefit in the treatment of ulcerative colitis confined to the distal colon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine; D011349:Proctitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D019804:Mesalamine