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Mesalazine enemas outdo sucralfate enemas in distal ulcerative colitis

' ... 5-ASA [mesalazineJ enemas are an effective form of treatment for distal ulcerative colitis while sucralfate does not produce the same immediate positive results.' In a 4-week randomised double-blind study, outpatients with mild or moderate attacks of ulcerative colitis not extending beyond the splenic flexure received sucralfate 109 (n = 18), mesalazine 2g (18) or placebo (14) as 100mi enemas.

After 15 days' treatment, clinical improvement or remission occurred in 3 sucralfate, 15 mesalazine and 2 placebo recipients. p.)igmoidoscopic improvement was seen in 3, 14 and 2 patients, respectively, and histological improvement occurred in 2, 10 and 1 patient(s). After 30 days' treatment, clinical, sigmoidoscopic and histological remission or improvement occurred in 4, 4 and 3 sucralfate-treated patients, respectively, 17, 16 and 15 mesalazine-treated patients and 2, 2 and 1 placebo recipient(s). Worsening of symptoms and of sigmoidoscopic and histological appearance occurred in 2 sucralfate and 4 placebo recipients. One sucralfate recipient reported constipation. Cam pieri M, Gionchetti P, Belluzzi A, Brigno1a C, Tampieri M, et aL Sucralfate, 5-aminosalicylic acid and placebo enemas in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis, European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 3: 41-44, Jan 1991 >803

16 Mar 1991 INPHARMA@ ISSN 0156-2703/91/0316-0012/0$01.00/0 © Adis International Lta