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Randomised clinical trial: early assessment after 2 weeks of high-dose mesalazine for moderately active ulcerative colitis - new light on a familiar question.

Author(s): Orchard TR, van der Geest SA, Travis SP

Affiliation(s): GI Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. t.orchard@imperial.ac.uk

Publication date & source: 2011-05, Aliment Pharmacol Ther., 33(9):1028-35. Epub 2011 Mar 8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial, Phase III; Comparative Study; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND: Rapid resolution of rectal bleeding and stool frequency are important goals for ulcerative colitis therapy and may help guide therapeutic decisions. AIM: To explore patient diary data from ASCEND I and II for their relevance to clinical decision making. METHODS: Data from two randomised, double-blind, Phase III studies were combined. Patients received mesalazine (mesalamine) 4.8 g/day (Asacol 800 mg MR) or 2.4 g/day (Asacol 400 mg MR). Time to improvement or resolution of rectal bleeding and stool frequency was assessed and the proportion of patients experiencing symptom improvement or resolution at day 14 evaluated using survival analysis. Symptoms after 14 days were compared to week 6. A combination of prespecified and post hoc analyses were used. RESULTS: Median times to resolution and improvement of both rectal bleeding and stool frequency were shorter with 4.8 g/day than 2.4 g/day (resolution, 19 vs. 29 days, P = 0.020; improvement, 7 vs. 9 days, P = 0.024). In total, 73% of patients experienced improvement in both rectal bleeding and stool frequency by day 14 with 4.8 g/day, compared to 61% with 2.4 g/day. More patients achieved symptom resolution by day 14 with 4.8 g/day than 2.4 g/day (43% vs. 30%; P = 0.035). Symptom relief after 14 days was associated with a high rate of symptom relief after 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose mesalazine 4.8 g/day provides rapid relief of the cardinal symptoms of moderately active ulcerative colitis. Symptom relief within 14 days was associated with symptom relief at 6 weeks in the majority of patients. Day 14 is a practical timepoint at which response to treatment may be assessed and decisions regarding therapy escalation made (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00577473, NCT00073021). (c) 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Page last updated: 2011-12-09

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