5-Aminosalicylic acid or sulfasalazine retention enemas in distal ulcerative colitis. A randomized therapeutic trial

Thirty outpatients with mild or moderate distal ulcerative colitis were included in a randomized four-week trial on the effect of twice-daily administration of 1.5 gm retention enemas of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) or sulfasalazine prepared in granular form and suspended in 100-ml water immediately before use. Two patients in the 5-ASA group and one in the sulfasalazine group dropped out. Subjective well-being, daily stool frequency, presence of blood and mucopus in feces, and sigmoidoscopic appearance improved after two and four weeks with both treatments. At the end of the study more patients (P <0.05) in the 5-ASA treatment group achieved remission, defined as concomitant restored subjective well-being, no blood or mucopus in feces, and nonhemorrhagic sigmoidoscopic appearances. No side effects attributable to the drugs were observed even in patients previously intolerant to oral sulfasalazine.