The .. apy Prednisone + sulfasalazine better sulfasalazine alone in Crohn's disease

In the first comparative study of these regimens. the addition of prednisone to sulfasalazine therapy in patients with Crohn's disease significantly improved the response in the first 8 weeks of therapy. There was also a tendency for an improved response after 16 weeks of therapy.

30 patients were randomised to receive sulfasalazine 6 g/day (reduced to 4 g/day if adverse effects occurred) and 30 patients received sulfasalazine and prednisone 30 mg/day for 2 weeks. tapered over the following 6 weeks and maintained at 10 mg/day until the end of the double-blind study. The addition of prednisone significantly improved patient outcome compared with sulfasalazine alone in patients with severe disease. Response was reduced in patients with severe diarrhoea at the initiation of therapy. A more gradual tapering of the prednisone dosage may have increased the difference observed between these regimens. Rijk MeM. van Hogezand RA. van Lier HJJ. van Tongeren JHM. Sulphasalazine and prednisone compared with sulphasalazine for treating active ('rohn disease. Annals of Internal Medicine 114: 445-450. 15 Mar 1991 ''''

ISSN 0156-1703/91/0330-0007/0S01.oo/0 © Adis Illtenultiollai Ltd 7

INPHARMA®30 Mar 1991 _