Budesonide in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: the first year of experience in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Delayed release budesonide was approved by the FDA for the treatment of mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and ascending colon. Controlled trials have demonstrated that budesonide is effective in inducing remission and for maintenance of remission, with less frequent steroid side effects than conventional steroids. We sought to determine the benefit of this medication in clinical practice and to identify any non-FDA-approved uses that may warrant further study.


METHODS
Patients in whom oral budesonide was prescribed between November 1, 2001 and October 31, 2002, were identified and medical records were reviewed. Patients were categorized by indication for therapy: ileocolonic Crohn's disease (group 1), Crohn's disease elsewhere (group 2), and other conditions (group 3).


RESULTS
A total of 225 patients were identified (108 in group 1, 62 in group 2, and 55 in group 3). Group 3 included patients with microscopic colitis (n = 28), pouchitis (n = 13), ulcerative colitis (n = 12), and celiac disease (n = 2). A favorable outcome occurred in 61% of group 1 patients but only 24% of patients in group 2. In group 3, only microscopic colitis patients and pouchitis patients experienced response rates >50% (77% and 60%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Budesonide is effective in a majority of patients with ileocolonic Crohn's disease and microscopic colitis, which is consistent with results reported from clinical trials. A majority of patients with pouchitis also benefit from budesonide therapy, but prospective controlled trials are necessary to clarify the benefit in this group.
Chopra
Ashish
A
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Pardi
Darrell S
DS
Loftus
Edward V
EV
Tremaine
William J
WJ
Egan
Laurence J
LJ
Faubion
William A
WA
Hanson
Karen A
KA
Johnson
Therese A
TA
Sandborn
William J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019819:Budesonide