title: The role of aminosalicylates in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Aminosalicylates (5-ASA, sulfasalazine and mesalazine) play a central role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). For acute treatment of mild to moderate flares and in maintenance treatment, their efficacy has been established. Since ulcerative colitis is limited to the distal colon in two thirds of the patients, topical therapy also plays an important role. In mild/moderate active disease 5-ASA 4 g/d is as effective as oral corticosteroids. Ulcerative proctitis is treated with 2 x 500 mg or 1 x 1 g suppositories and proctosigmoiditis with 1 to 4 g enemas. Oral 5-ASA is also safe in maintenance treatment and is generally well tolerated. The risk of colorectal tumours is increased in patients with longstanding ulcerative colitis and epidemiological evidence indicates that chronic 5-ASA treatment reduces this risk. However, at present there is insufficient evidence to maintain patients on life-long 5-ASA maintenance treatment for this indication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Assche
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Reuck
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Wit
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Fazia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mana
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelckmans
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rutgeerts
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Gossum
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Haens
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D019804:Mesalamine