A new mesalazine foam enema (Claversal Foam) compared with a standard liquid enema in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis.
BACKGROUND
Rectally administered mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid) is a recognized therapy for distal ulcerative colitis. It is frequently applied as a liquid enema. However, there are reasons (acceptability to the patient, more uniform topical dispersion and effective adhesion) to prefer a foam-based enema.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared a foam enema (2 g mesalazine per day, Claversal Foam) with a standard liquid enema (4 g mesalazine per day, Salofalk enema).


METHODS
Patients with active distal ulcerative colitis, diagnosed according to standardized criteria, were treated for 4 weeks. The primary goal was clinical remission; endoscopic remission, histological changes, global assessment and standard safety measures were also analysed. A major subset of the patients also provided quality-of-life data.


RESULTS
Both foam and liquid enema gave good rates of clinical and endoscopic remission. The foam enema was shown to be as efficacious as the reference, even though the daily dose in the foam treatment contained only half as much active drug as in the reference treatment. Minor regional differences in efficacy were seen. The tolerabilities of the two formulations were comparable.


CONCLUSIONS
The foam enema offers a safe, efficacious and acceptable treatment for distal ulcerative colitis.
Malchow
H
H
Klinikum Leverkusen, Germany.
Gertz
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004304:Dosage Forms; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004304:Dosage Forms; D019804:Mesalamine