title: Olsalazine versus sulfasalazine in mild to moderate childhood ulcerative colitis: results of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Collaborative Research Group Clinical Trial.
abstract: The safety and efficacy of olsalazine sodium was compared to sulfasalazine over 3 months in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study of 56 children with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Twenty-eight children received 30 mg/kg/day of olsalazine (maximum, 2 g/day) and 28 received 60 mg/kg/day of sulfasalazine (maximum, 4 g/day). Side effects were frequent in both groups. Eleven of 28 patients (39%) on olsalazine reported headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, pruritus, increased diarrhea, and/or fever. Thirteen of 28 on sulfasalazine (46%) reported similar side effects and/or neutropenia, and four patients had the drug stopped because of an adverse reaction. After 3 months, 11 of 28 (39%) on olsalazine were asymptomatic or clinically improved, compared to 22 of 28 (79%) on sulfasalazine (p = 0.006). In addition, 10 of 28 patients on olsalazine versus one on sulfasalazine required prednisone because of lack of response or worsening of colitis (p = 0.005). The dose of olsalazine used in this clinical trial was thought to be equivalent to a standard dose of sulfasalazine, but fewer patients on olsalazine improved and a greater number had progression of symptoms when compared to sulfasalazine. Although side effects were slightly less frequent for olsalazine, the number of patients was too small to detect a clinically significant difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Coordinating Center Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Grand
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Issenman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vanderhoof
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fiedorek
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hassall
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D012460:Sulfasalazine; C032587:olsalazine