title: A pilot feasibility study of once daily versus conventional dosing mesalamine for maintenance of ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess, in a small sample, the short-term outcomes of once-daily mesalamine versus conventional dosing in maintaining quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC) and to assess adherence rates with both regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients were randomly assigned to either a once-daily regimen, or they continued current conventional regimen (twice daily or 3 times daily). Patients were assessed at 3 months and 6 months. At each point, a clinical symptom disease score was obtained using patient questionnaires, and medication rates via pharmacy data. Adherence was defined as consumption of >80% of prescribed medication. Information was collected by an investigator blinded to treatment regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the study, 12 in the once-daily group (QD) and 10 in the conventional group (CD). At 3 months, no patients had experienced a relapse. All of the patients in the QD group and 70% of patients in the CD group were adherent (P = 0.04). The average amount of medication consumed in the QD group was significantly higher than in the CD group (90% vs. 75%, P = 0.02). At 6 months, 2 patients (1 patient from each group) experienced a clinical relapse (P = 0.76). Seventy-five percent vs. 70% of patients were adherent (P = 0.8); the amount of medication taken approached significance (90% vs. 76%, P = 0.07). All patients in the QD group reported being either "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this randomized pilot trial, patients taking once-daily mesalamine had outcomes similar to those for patients on conventional regimens. A larger trial is warranted to assess whether true differences between regimens exist.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Health Studies, University of Chicago; and Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. skane@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Sunanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Dezheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Magnanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine