title: [Effect of a probiotic preparation (VSL#3) in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that characteristically has a relapsing and remitting course. Probiotics might possibly induce remission in the treatment of active UC. Aims of our study were to assess the efficacy of VSL#3 on clinical response and colonic tissue cytokine concentration changes in patients with active UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four eligible patients with mild to moderate UC received open-label VSL#3 4 sachets daily in 2 divided doses for 8 weeks. The disease activity pre- and post-VSL#3 therapy was assessed by ulcerative colitis disease activity score and colonic tissue cytokine profiling done at baseline and at week 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients (mean age, 43.7 years; range, 20-70 years; male/female, 15/9) were enrolled and 2 patients did not have the final endoscopic assessment. A total of 22 patients were analyzed. Intent to treat analysis demonstrated remission in 45.8% of subjects (n=11); partial response in 20.8% (n=5); no change or worse in 25.0% (n=6) of subjects. The mean ulcerative colitis disease activity index (UCDAI) scores decreased from 7.09±1.81 to 1.45±1.29 in patients with a remission (p<0.001). The mean endoscopic scores had also significantly decreased from 1.91±0.54 to 0.63±0.50 in patients with a remission (p<0.001). The concentrations of colonic cytokines did not change significantly during treatment in patients with a remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that VSL#3 is effective in achieving clinical responses and remissions in patients with mild-to moderately active UC, further supporting the potential role in UC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hanam Song Do Colorectal Hospital, 362 Deokpung 2-dong, Hanam 465-803, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gyoo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hyeok Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Woo Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Pyoung Ju
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Tai Yoon
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Baec
authors.forename: Ju Hyeong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Shig
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines