title: 5-ASA enema versus oral sulphasalazine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: This prospective trial in patients with left-sided ulcerative colitis evaluated the efficacy and acceptability of biweekly high-dose 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enemas (4g/100ml) in maintaining a remission recently induced using daily 5-ASA enemas. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned, 16 to 5-ASA and 15 to oral sulphasalazine (2g/day), and examined monthly. Sigmoidoscopy was performed "blind" at six months or at clinical relapse. Twelve patients on 5-ASA (75%) and nine on sulphasalazine (60%) remained in clinical and endoscopic remission throughout the study (NS), and the survival curve for 5-ASA was better at all points (NS). No patient stopped therapy due to side effects, and all those on 5-ASA chose to continue rectal maintenance therapy after the study. It was concluded that biweekly 5-ASA enemas is at least as effective as oral sulphasalazine in maintaining remission in unselected patients whose remission has been achieve using local therapy.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levenstein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prantera
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D019804:Mesalamine