Colonic spreading of a non-chlorofluorocarbon mesalazine rectal foam enema in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis.
BACKGROUND
Rectal foam enemas provide for drug delivery to the distal colon for treatment of left sided ulcerative colitis. However, currently available formulations contain chlorofluorocarbons which are due to be phased out in the near future. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the degree of dispersion of a newly developed non-chlorofluorocarbon rectal foam preparation in ulcerative colitis patients.


METHODS
This was an open label non-controlled study of a single administration of a mesalazine foam enema (two actuations containing 2 g of mesalazine in approximately 120 mL foam) in 10 patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Spreading of the 99mTc-labelled foam enema was assessed over a 4-h period by the non-invasive technique of gamma scintigraphy.


RESULTS
All patients retained the enema for the full 4-h imaging period. In nine out of the 10 patients, the enema was observed to spread as far as the descending colon and on average 23% of the dose was present in the descending colon at 4 h post-dose.


CONCLUSIONS
The extent of spreading observed in the study supports the use of the formulation in the treatment of left sided ulcerative colitis.
Wilding
I R
IR
Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd, Highfields Science Park, Nottingham, UK.
Kenyon
C J
CJ
Chauhan
S
S
Hooper
G
G
Marshall
S
S
McCracken
J S
JS
Staab
H J
HJ
Armbrecht
J
J
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D019804:Mesalamine; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D013667:Technetium / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine; D013667:Technetium