Rebampide enema therapy as a treatment for patients with chronic radiation proctitis: initial treatment or when other methods of conservative management have failed.
BACKGROUND
Radiation proctitis is a common complication following radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies. There have been no formal trials of treatment for radiation proctitis and a variety of methods are currently used. We assessed the efficacy of rebamipide enema to control symptoms and proctoscopic findings from radiation proctitis.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with radiation proctitis were enrolled. Enemas containing 150 mg rebamipide per dosing were administered after morning bowel movement, and always prior to bedtime, twice daily for 4 weeks. The efficacy of treatment was assessed from clinical symptoms (Subjective Objective Management Analysis Scale for Rectal Toxicity) and endoscopic findings.


RESULTS
The mean bleeding score improved from 2.67 to 0.53 (P < 0.01). The mean symptom scores improved in those patients who had pain (0.40 to 0.13), tenesmus (0.40 to 0.20), and stool frequency (0.27 to 0.13). The mean improvement in telangiectasia scores (2.13 to 0.80, P < 0.01), bleeding point scores (1.80 to 0.27, P < 0.01), and friable mucosa scores (1.33 to 0.20, P < 0.01) were all statistically significant. No side effects were noted in any patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Rebamipide enema therapy for radiation proctitis is a safe and effective treatment of radiation proctitis. We suggest the value of rebamipide enema in the treatment of radiation proctitis when other conservative management or first treatment has failed.
Kim
Tae Oh
TO
Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Seo-Gu, Busan, Korea.
Song
Geun Am
GA
Lee
Sun Mi
SM
Kim
Gwang Ha
GH
Heo
Jeong
J
Kang
Dae Hwan
DH
Cho
Mong
M
D000368:Aged; D000409:Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011349:Proctitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D015363:Quinolones; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine