Safety and efficacy of controlled-release mesalamine for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Pentasa UC Maintenance Study Group.
This 12-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 205 ulcerative colitis patients in remission to placebo or controlled-release mesalamine at 4 g/day for 12 months. Patients were stratified to either pancolitis or left-sided disease, based on previous diagnosis. Maintenance of remission was defined as a sigmoidoscopic index of < 5, less than five stools per day, and the absence of rectal bleeding. A significantly greater number of patients maintained remission on mesalamine 4 g/day than on placebo at each of five study visits, following the first one-month visit (P < 0.05). The estimated 12-month remission rates for the mesalamine group were 64% (38% for placebo, P = 0.0004). Baseline subgroups (disease location, time since last flare of active disease, and previous response to oral/rectal steroids or sulfasalazine) did not influence remission rates. Treatment-related adverse events were rare. Controlled-release mesalamine is a safe and efficacious single agent for maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis.
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
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Miner
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Hanauer
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Robinson
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Schwartz
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Arora
D000328:Adult; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002214:Capsules; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D012449:Safety; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D019804:Mesalamine