New therapies for idiopathic ulcerative colitis.
Medical and surgical management of ulcerative colitis has advanced far in the last decade. New time-released ASA compounds and enemas have decreased the side effects of sulfasalazine and allowed delivery of higher doses of the active compound to the site of action. New steroid compounds have reduced the potential for systemic adrenal glucocorticoid suppression. However, therapy is still directed only against secondary immune and inflammatory responses. Until the cause of UC is discovered, well-designed and well-performed clinical trials must continue to try to identify agents that combine low toxicity with high therapeutic potential.
Rubinstein
M C
MC
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Fisher
R L
RL
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine