Abstract
Traditional medical therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes corticosteroids and sulfasalazine. In recent years, several mesalamine derivatives of sulfasalazine have become available. These allow delivery of increased dosages of active medication with minimal side effects. Newer steroid preparations, all investigational at this point, likely will offer efficacy similar to that of prednisone but with an improved side effect profile. Immunosuppressive agents, including 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine, and likely also methotrexate, are beneficial in treating refractory IBD, particularly in patients with chronic steroid dependence. Cyclosporine has been shown to be remarkably effective in delaying colectomy for severe ulcerative colitis, but its long-term role remains uncertain.
MeSH terms
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Administration, Topical
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
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Aminosalicylic Acid / administration & dosage
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Aminosalicylic Acid / therapeutic use
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Aminosalicylic Acids / administration & dosage
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Aminosalicylic Acids / therapeutic use
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
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Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy
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Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic
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Crohn Disease / drug therapy
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Fatty Acids, Volatile / administration & dosage
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Fatty Acids, Volatile / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy*
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Mesalamine
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Metronidazole / therapeutic use
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Nicotine / therapeutic use
Substances
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones
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Aminosalicylic Acids
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
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Fatty Acids, Volatile
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Metronidazole
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Mesalamine
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Aminosalicylic Acid
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Nicotine