Sulphasalazine, sulphapyridine or 5-aminosalicylic acid--which is the active moiety in rheumatoid arthritis?
Sulphasalazine is cleaved into 5-aminosalicylic acid and sulphapyridine by colonic bacteria. The bulk of evidence favours sulphapyridine rather than 5-aminosalicylic acid as the active moiety (as well as the main producer of side-effects) though a therapeutic action from the 30% of sulphasalazine that is absorbed unaltered also cannot be excluded.
Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds.
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D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine; D013427:Sulfapyridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D019804:Mesalamine; D013427:Sulfapyridine