Colitis Activity is Suppressed with Olsalazine In patients intolerant of sulfasalazine

In a double-blind 21-day trial, placebo or olsalazine 0.75 gjday, 1.5 gjday or 3 gjday was administered to 66 outpatients with active ulcerative colitis who were intolerant of sulfasalazine.

Compared with baseline, olsalazine produced improvement in clinical activity in all recipients (p = 0.01), and in recipients of 1.5 gjday (p = 0.04) and 3 gjday (p = 0.055). Improved clinical colitis activity was shown in 35% of the treatment group compared with 16% of the placebo group. Results indicated a significant dose-response relationship as the rate of improvement was 16% (placebo), 29% (olsalazine 0.75 gjday), 27% (1.5 gjday) and 50% (3 gjday). Sigmoidoscopy revealed similar improvements although no dose-response relationship was shown. No significant difference was shown between the treatment and placebo groups in the occurrence of adverse effects.

Thus, ' .. . o/sa/azine sodium may favourably influence the therapeutic outcome of ulcerative colitis, especially at higher doses. It appears well tolerated, even among patients with allergy to or intolerance of sulfasa/azine'. Meyers S, Sachor DB, Present DH, Janowitz HD, Gastroenterology 93: 1255·1262, Dec 1987

14 INPHARMA" 30 January 1988 0156-2703/88/0130-0014/0$01,00/0 © ADIS Press