Red cell abnormalities associated with sulphasalazine maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis.
Of 52 patients receiving a mean dose of 2.5g sulphasalazine/day as maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis, 35 were found to have one or more drug-induced red cell abnormalities, which were not found in 50 normal controls or in 10 colitics not receiving sulphasalazine. Twenty-three of the treated patients had contracted red cells, an abnormality that is thought to result in mild haemolysis. Red cell contraction was related to the dose of sulphasalazine (P smaller than 0.01), the serum total sulphapyridine level (P smaller than 0.001), and acetylator status. Eleven of the treated patients had a macrocytosis, 21 had elevated levels of methaemoglobin, and one had Heinz bodies. A dose of 1.5 g sulphasalazine/day was not associated with red cell contraction, and is suggested as a safer maintenance dose for the asymptomatic colitic.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Spindel, E.
(1983). Sulfasalazine and Folate Deficiency. JAMA
250: 900-900
[Abstract] -
Longstreth, G. F., Green, R.
(1983). Folate Status in Patients Receiving Maintenance Doses of Sulfasalazine. Arch Intern Med
143: 902-904
[Abstract] -
WHEELAN, K. R., COOPER, B., STONE, M. J.
(1982). Multiple Hematologic Abnormalities Associated with Sulfasalazine. ANN INTERN MED
97: 726-727
[Abstract]
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
