Azathioprine in Ulcerative Colitis: An Interim Report on a Controlled Therapeutic Trial

This interim report on a controlled therapeutic trial of azathioprine in ulcerative colitis deals with the first 40 patients to complete a one-year period of maintenance treatment with azathioprine or with dummy tablets. The patients all suffered from classical ulcerative colitis and were in an actual attack of the disease at the time of admission. The attack was treated with a standard corticosteroid regimen and the patients were assigned at random to maintenance treatment with real or dummy azathioprine tablets, using a stratified design. The treatment and control groups were closely similar at the beginning of the trial.The effect of treatment has been assessed on the basis of the number of relapses of the disease occurring during the one-year trial period, supplemented by an assessment of the sigmoidoscopic picture and of the histological findings on serial rectal biopsy. In the patients receiving azathioprine the disease ran a more favourable course than in the control group. After the attack had been treated 11 of the 20 patients on azathioprine were symptom-free throughout the rest of the one-year trial period compared with only 5 out of 20 in the control group. The only three patients classed as failures were all in the control group. These differences just fail to reach conventional levels of statistical significance.Azathioprine is not dramatically successful but may still be a useful addition to the medical treatment of ulcerative colitis, particularly if conventional medical treatment is ineffective and there are reasons for wishing to avoid radical surgery. In the dose used azathioprine was virtually free from undesirable side effects.     

Randomised controlled trial of azathioprine withdrawal in ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether azathioprine can prevent relapse in ulcerative colitis. DESIGN--One year placebo controlled double blind trial of withdrawal or continuation of azathioprine. SETTING--Outpatient clinics of five hospitals. SUBJECTS--79 patients with ulcerative colitis who had been taking azathioprine for six months or more. Patients in full remission for two months or more (67), and patients with chronic low grade or corticosteroid dependent disease (12) were randomised separately. 33 patients in remission received azathioprine and 34 placebo; five patients with chronic stable disease received azathioprine and seven placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Rate of relapse. Relapse was defined as worsening of symptoms or sigmoidoscopic appearance. RESULTS--For the remission group the one year rate of relapse was 36% (12/33) for patients continuing azathioprine and 59% (20/34) for those taking placebo (hazard rate ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.25 to 1.0). For the subgroup of 54 patients in long term remission (greater than six months before entry to trial) benefit was still evident, with a 31% (8/26) rate of relapse with azathioprine and 61% (17/28) with placebo (p less than 0.01). For the small group of patients with chronic stable colitis (six were corticosteroid dependent and six had low grade symptoms) no benefit was found from continued azathioprine therapy. Adverse events were minimal. CONCLUSIONS--Azathioprine maintenance treatment in ulcerative colitis is beneficial for at least two years if patients have achieved remission while taking the drug. Demonstration of the relapse preventing properties of azathioprine has implications for a large number of patients with troublesome ulcerative colitis, who may benefit from treatment with azathioprine.     

Controlled trial of azathioprine in chronic ulcerative colitis.

A double-blind controlled trial of azathioprine in a dose of 2-2.5 mg/kg body weight over six months was conducted among 44 patients with active chronic ulcerative colitis. Three patients treated with placebo did not complete the trial because their disease became so severe that colectomy was performed. Among patients who completed the trial the mean dose of prednisolone necessary to control the disease decreased in those treated with azathioprine and those treated with placebo; the reduction was greater among those who took azathioprine (p less than 0.001). Activity of the disease apparently improved in both treatment groups but a significant (p less than 0.001) trend was observed only in those patients treated with azathioprine. No serious side effects from azathioprine occurred during the trial but seven of 24 patients had to stop the drug because of nausea. Azathioprine may have a role in the treatment of a few patients wih troublesome chronic colitis for whom conventional drug treatment is ineffectual, or for whom continuous systemic corticosteroid treatment is needed to control symptoms, and for whom surgical treatment is inappropriate.     

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Blocking Agents as Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis Intolerant or Refractory to Conventional Medical Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Efficacy of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blockers for treatment of ulcerative colitis that is unresponsive to conventional therapy is unclear due to recent studies yielding conflicting results.

Aim

To assess the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF-α agents for treatment of ulcerative colitis patients who were intolerant or refractory to conventional medical therapy.

Methods

Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were searched. Analysis was performed on randomized controlled trials that assessed anti-TNF-α therapy on ulcerative colitis patients that had previously failed therapy with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. The primary outcome focused on was the frequency of patients that achieved clinical remission. Further trial outcomes of interest included rates of remission without patient use of corticosteroids during the trial, extent of mucosal healing, and the number of cases that resulted in colectomy and serious side effects.

Results

Eight trials from seven studies (n = 2122) met the inclusion criteria and were thus included during analysis. TNF-α blockers demonstrated clinical benefit as compared to placebo control as evidenced by an increased frequency of clinical remission (p<0.00001), steroid-free remission (p = 0.01), endoscopic remission (p<0.00001) and a decrease in frequency of colectomy (p = 0.03). No difference was found concerning serious side effects (p = 0.05). Three small trials (n = 57) comparing infliximab to corticosteroid treatment, showed no difference in frequency of clinical remission (p = 0.93), mucosal healing (p = 0.80), and requirement for a colectomy (p = 0.49). One trial compared infliximab to cyclosporine (n = 115), wherein no difference was found in terms of mucosal healing (p = 0.85), colectomy frequency (p = 0.60) and serious side effects (p = 0.23).

Conclusion

TNF-α blockers are effective and safe therapies for the induction and maintenance of long-term remission and prevention of treatment by colectomy for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis where conventional treatment was previously ineffective. Furthermore, infliximab and cyclosporine were found to be comparable for treating acute severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis.     

Acute colitis in a district general hospital.

A review of all patients who had been admitted to hospital with acute ulcerative colitis in one health district between 1975 and 1984 showed that 96 had required 114 admissions with acute colitis: 42% (40) were admitted during their first attack, and 20% (19) required urgent surgery. A further nine patients underwent surgery after responding initially to intensive medical treatment that did not check the attack. There were no deaths from acute colitis. Thirteen patients underwent elective surgery for ulcerative colitis, and there were no deaths. The prognosis for acute colitis in district general hospitals has improved.     

葛根芩连汤加蒲公英灌肠治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床观察

目的:观察中药葛根芩连汤加蒲公英灌肠治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效。方法:溃疡性结肠炎患者113例,随机分为治疗组(60例)和对照组(53例),前者用蒲公英葛根芩连汤灌肠,后者用柳氮黄吡啶治疗。结果:治疗组总有效率为90%,对照组总有效率75.5%,差异具有显著性(P<0.01)。结论:中药葛根芩连汤加蒲公英灌肠治疗溃疡性结肠炎疗效好,建议临床推广应用。     

参苓白术散与美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血清IL-17、IL-23 及TNF-alpha水平的影响

目的:探讨参苓白术散联合美沙拉嗪治疗脾胃气虚型溃疡性结肠炎的疗效及对血清细胞因子水平的影响。方法:按照随机数字表法将2013年1月至2014年1月我院收治的脾胃气虚型溃疡性结肠炎患者分为两组,对照组给予美沙拉嗪口服治疗,观察组在对照组基础上予参苓白术散口服治疗,比较两组患者的临床疗效及血清细胞因子的水平变化。结果:观察组患者治疗的总有效率优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后,两组患者Sutherland DAI评分均获得改善,且观察组优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组患者的IL-17、IL-23及TNF-α水平均显著降低,且观察组低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:参苓白术散联合美沙拉嗪对脾胃气虚型溃疡性结肠炎具有良好的临床疗效,能够改善患者血清细胞因子的水平。     

Fatal Myelotoxicity After Azathioprine Treatment

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine have been used for many years in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Approximately 0.3% of the population are homozygous for variant alleles associated with extremely low thiopurine S-methyltransferase enzyme activity. We describe the case of a young patient with ulcerative colitis, homozygous for TPMT?3A alleles, who suffered fatal azathioprine-induced myelotoxicity after standard dosing with azathioprine. Screening for decreased activity of TPMT in patients prior to azathioprine treatment is advised to minimize the risk of drug-induced toxicity.     

Fatal myelotoxicity after azathioprine treatment

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine have been used for many years in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Approximately 0.3% of the population are homozygous for variant alleles associated with extremely low thiopurine S-methyltransferase enzyme activity. We describe the case of a young patient with ulcerative colitis, homozygous for TPMT*3A alleles, who suffered fatal azathioprine-induced myelotoxicity after standard dosing with azathioprine. Screening for decreased activity of TPMT in patients prior to azathioprine treatment is advised to minimize the risk of drug-induced toxicity.     

思连康治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效及机制研究

目的研究微生态制剂思连康辅助治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效及其可能的机制。方法将溃疡性结肠炎患者79例随机分成治疗组及对照组,治疗组40例,对照组39例。对照组采用常规治疗,治疗组在常规治疗的基础上加用双歧四联活菌制剂——思连康。比较2组治疗前及治疗2个月后患者的临床症状评分、结肠黏膜炎症表现、细胞因子IL-10、IL-18的变化。结果治疗2个月后2组临床症状评分、结肠黏膜炎症评分均较治疗前有明显改善（P〈0.01）,且治疗组临床症状、结肠黏膜炎症改善程度优于对照组（P〈0.01）,IL-10、IL-18的含量治疗前后有明显的变化,IL-10增加,IL-18降低。结论思连康可辅助治疗溃疡性结肠炎,其机制可能是通过调节细胞因子的变化,进一步影响结肠黏膜的免疫功能。     

Controlled Trial of Azathioprine and Prednisone in Chronic Renal Disease

Patients with various forms of glomerulonephritis, but excluding those with minimal glomerular changes, were admitted to a controlled trial of a regimen which combined azathioprine in a dosage of 2·5 mg/kg/day with prednisone in a dosage of 20 mg/day (adults) or 0·5 mg/kg/day (children). Of 149 patients included, 32 of them under the age of 15, 72 were randomly allocated to the “treatment” group and 77 to the “control” group. There was no evidence of benefit from the treatment group as a whole; and the mortality was in fact higher in the treated group.     

中药灌肠联合美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血小板功能的影响

目的:研究中药灌肠和口服美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎(Ulcerative colitis,UC)患者血小板功能的影响。方法:选择2013年1月至2014年6月我院接受治疗的溃疡性结肠炎患者60例,法随机分为两组,每组30例。观察组患者给予中药灌肠联合口服美沙拉嗪治疗,对照组患者单纯给予口服美沙拉嗪治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后C反应蛋白(CRP)、血沉及血小板计数的变化情况。结果:观察组患者总有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗前CRP、血沉、血小板计数等指标差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,观察组CRP、血沉及血小板计数显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:中药保留灌肠加口服美沙拉嗪肠溶片用于治疗UC,可较好地改善患者症状,增大疗效,改善其血小板功能状态。值得推荐。     

Azathioprine plus prednisone in treatment of pemphigoid.

Twenty-five patients taking part in a controlled trial to compare azathioprine plus prednisone with prednisone alone in the treatment of pemphigoid were followed up for three years. Results showed that the addition of azathioprine 2.5 mg/kg body weight daily reduced the total maintenance dose of prednisone needed by about 45%, with no increase in serious side effects or mortality. The suggestion that azathioprine might increase the risk of disseminated malignancy in elderly patients was not supported. We conclude that in future trials the combination of azathioprine with prednisone should be used as the standard treatment for comparison.     

溃疡性结肠炎患者外周血C 反应性蛋白、血清降钙素原及白细胞介素-6 水平及临床意义

目的:分析溃疡性结肠炎(Ulcerative colitis,UC)患者血清降钙素原(Procalcitonin,PCT)、C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)及白细胞介素-6(Interleukin-6,IL-6)水平与病情严重程度的关系。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年5月在我院就诊的溃疡性结肠炎患者91例作为研究对象,另选择同期在我院接受健康体检的志愿者69例作为对照组。检测并比较两组研究对象血清降钙素原(PCT)、C反应性蛋白(CRP)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)的水平,并分析PCT,CRP及IL-6水平与溃疡性结肠炎的相关性。结果:溃疡性结肠炎患者PCT水平为(1.24±0.23)ng/m L,对照组PCT水平为(0.12±0.10)ng/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者PCT水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);溃疡性结肠炎患者CRP水平为(105.27±19.93)mg/m L,对照组CRP水平为(7.62±2.97)mg/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);溃疡性结肠炎患者IL-6水平为(248.15±35.60)ng/m L,对照组IL-6水平为(144.05±20.26)ng/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者血清IL-6水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。溃疡性结肠炎患者血清PCT,IL-6及CRP水平之间均呈正相关关系(r=0.301,0.468,0.413,P0.01)。结论:溃疡性结肠炎患者血清PCT,CRP及IL-6水平均显著高于健康人群,其水平变化与患者病情严重程度有关。因此,我们在临床实践中应予以重视。     

复方苦参汤联合美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎治疗效果及炎性因子水平的影响

目的:探讨复方苦参汤联合美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎治疗效果及炎性因子水平的影响。方法:以我院2017年1月至2019年12月中西医结合科和消化内科收治的206例溃疡性结肠炎患者为研究对象,根据随机抽样法将受试者分为对照组和研究组,每组各103例,对照组接受美沙拉嗪治疗,研究组在对照组的基础上口服复方苦参汤治疗,比较两组的治疗总有效率,治疗前后黏膜病变、疾病活动指数与各炎性因子水平变化以及用药安全性。结果:研究组治疗总有效率较对照组高(P<0.05);治疗后两组肠镜下黏膜病变与疾病活动指数较治疗前均明显改善,且研究组显著优于对照组(P<0.05);治疗后两组白细胞介素(interleukine,IL)-6、IL-8、肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor, TNF)-α、C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)及降钙素原(procallcitonin,PCT)等炎性因子水平较治疗前均显著下降,且研究组低于对照组(P<0.05);两组药物所致不良反应发生率比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:复方苦参汤联合美沙拉嗪可有效缓解临床症状,改善肠道黏膜病变,降低肠道炎性反应,控制病情进展,疗效安全显著,对促进溃疡性结肠炎患者病情康复具有积极意义。     

实验性大鼠溃疡性结肠炎菌群失调的诊断及复方树舌的治疗观察

目的探讨对溃疡性结肠炎厌氧菌菌群失调简便检查方法,寻找有效治疗溃疡性结肠炎的中药合剂。方法用冰乙酸诱发大鼠结肠炎模型,用复方树舌中药治疗,在治疗期间分别检测每组大鼠厌氧菌代谢产物、挥发性脂肪酸的含量、了解肠厌氧菌群改变,一般切片行HE染色,观察病理变化。结果（1）模型组大鼠挥发性脂肪酸明显低于正常组（P〈0．05）;pH从第2天起升高明显高于正常对照组（P〈0．05）,各治疗组与自然恢复组比较差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。（2）自然恢复组与各用药组间的炎症评分比较P〈0．01,各治疗组间比较,树舌加丽珠肠乐组组织损伤评分小（P〈0．05）。结论（1）测定厌氧菌的代谢产物挥发性脂肪酸含量,即可对肠内厌氧菌菌群失调做出判断。（2）实验证明,复方树舌中药可作为益生元调节肠道菌群失调及黏膜的修复,对溃疡性结肠炎疗效显著。     

Chronic Ulcerative Colitis Before and After Colectomy

There is a proper time to advise removal of the colon and creation of a permanent ileostomy in the course of progressive toxic ulcerative colitis. When a thorough trial of medical therapy, including corticosteroids, has failed to halt progression of the disease, a properly timed colectomy may give the patient a new lease on life and enable him to maintain himself socially and economically.The development of ileostomy (Q-T) clubs has been an important factor in preparing them for and sustaining these young patients through the psychological trauma of an ileostomy. Two patients are described who illustrate the value of properly timed surgery and the contribution that ileostomy clubs can make.     

Azathioprine in Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid

Azathioprine was given to 11 patients with pemphigoid who had been on long-term maintenance therapy with prednisone or prednisolone. In nine of these prednisone therapy was withdrawn and all were maintained symptom-free on azathioprine alone, while in two the dose of prednisone was considerably reduced. One patient who had never received corticosteroids was controlled by azathioprine alone during the initial acute phase of the illness. Since azathioprine acts slowly, it is recommended that corticosteroids should be used together with azathioprine during the acute stage. Thus azathioprine is valuable in long-term management of pemphigoid, particularly in patients showing corticosteroid toxicity or in whom the minimum maintenance dose is dangerously high.     

TNF-alpha、IL-6及IL-8在不同程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清中的表达及意义

目的：探讨不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-alpha、IL-6 及IL-8 的表达及意义。方法：选择2011 年1 月~2014 年7 月 我院收治的溃疡性结肠炎患者47 例,根据严重程度将患者分为轻度组、中度组和重度组。另选取同期在我院接受健康体检的志 愿者80 例作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测各组患者血清TNF-alpha、IL-6 及IL-8 的水平。结果：溃疡性结肠炎患者 血清TNF-琢、IL-6 及IL-8 水平高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者的TNF-alpha、IL-6 及IL-8 水平呈显著差异（P<0.05）。结论：检测溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-alpha、IL-6 及IL-8的水平变化有利于预测病情进展。     

Sulphasalazine retention enemas in ulcerative colitis: a double-blind trial.

Thirty-four patients with ulcerative colitis completed a double-blind assessment comparing the efficacy of two weeks of treatment with nightly retention enemas containing 3 g sulphasalazine or placebo. Symptom grading, sigmoidoscopic appearance, rectal biopsy specimens, and diary records were used to assess benefit and side effects. The active drug conferred significant benefit compared with placebo as shown by several criteria, but this benefit was confined to patients not already taking sulphasalazine by mouth. Overall assessment showed improvement in 11 of the 16 patients (70%) given the active treatment but in only two of the 18 (11%) given placebo. No side effects attributable to the drug were observed, even in patients previously intolerant to oral preparations. The logical therapeutic role of sulphasalazine enemas in ulcerative colitis would appear to be in patients who experience side effects such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, or headaches when taking the drug by mouth.