PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S A Riley
AU  - V Mani
AU  - M J Goodman
AU  - M E Herd
AU  - S Dutt
AU  - L A Turnberg
TI  - Comparison of delayed release 5 aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) and sulphasalazine in the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis relapse.
AID  - 10.1136/gut.29.5.669
DP  - 1988 May 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 669--674
VI  - 29
IP  - 5
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/29/5/669.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/29/5/669.full
SO  - Gut1988 May 01; 29
AB  - Oral formulations of 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) appear less toxic than sulphasalazine. We have therefore compared sulphasalazine, low dose mesalazine and high dose mesalazine in the treatment of mild to moderate relapse of ulcerative colitis. Sixty one patients (32 men, aged 20-78 years) were randomly allocated to sulphasalazine 2 g daily, mesalazine 800 mg daily, or mesalazine 2.4 g daily in a double blind, double dummy, four week trial. Groups were comparable for age, sex, extent of disease, and pretrial sulphasalazine intake. Four patients were unable to complete the study because of treatment failure (two taking sulphasalazine and two high dose mesalazine). A further two patients taking sulphasalazine developed side effects necessitating withdrawal. Within treatment comparisons revealed significant improvement of: sigmoidoscopic grade in the sulphasalazine group; rectal bleeding, sigmoidoscopic and histological grade in the low dose mesalazine group; stool frequency, rectal bleeding and sigmoidoscopic grade in the high dose mesalazine group. Greater improvement in rectal bleeding (p less than 0.05) and sigmoidoscopic appearances (p less than 0.05) occurred in patients taking high dose mesalazine than in those taking sulphasalazine. In two patients taking high dose mesalazine minor rises of plasma creatinine concentrations occurred, suggesting the need to monitor renal function.