Enemas of 4-amino-salicylic acid (4-ASA) have been compared with placebo enemas in a double-blind study for the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis of mild to moderate severity. 30 patients were randomised to receive enemas containing 1 g of 4-AS A or placebo, and 22 to receive 2-gram enemas of 4-ASA or placebo. For each dose of 4-ASA there was clinical and sigmoidoscopic improvement, which reached significance when all patients receiving 4-ASA enemas were compared with those receiving placebo enemas (Cochran’s test: p < 0.005). There was also a trend towards histological improvement, but this failed to reach the level of significance. These findings suggest that 4-ASA may provide a stable, inexpensive alternative to 5-ASA for the topical treatment of ulcerative colitis or for linking to carrier molecules for release in the colon.
Journal article
S. Karger AG
2009-01-28T00:00:00+00:00
231 - 234
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