Corticosteroids for Crohn's Disease
Authors: JOHN W. SINGLETON
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

Editorial Notes1 June 1979Corticosteroids for Crohn's DiseaseJOHN W. SINGLETON, M.D.JOHN W. SINGLETON, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-90-6-983 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptDrug therapy for Crohn's disease has been largely empirical. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®) is widely used and recommended (1) in mild disease, the rationale being by analogy from its proven effect in ulcerative colitis. Azathioprine, found useful in some small controlled trials and not in others (2), was not significantly better than placebo in the National Cooperative Crohn's Disease Study (NCCDS) (3). A recent well-controlled trial in London found that withdrawal of azathioprine after the disease had been in remission 6 or more months precipitated flare-up (4). It is currently under study in a large cooperative European trial. The metabolic product of...References1. KIRSNERWALL JA: The medical treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease of the colon, in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, edited by KIRSNER JB, SHORTER RJ. Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1975, pp. 279-293 Google Scholar2. SACHARPRESENT DD: Immunotherapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Med Clin North Am 62:173-183, 1978 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SINGLETON J: National Cooperative Crohn's Disease Study (NCCDS): results of drug treatment (abstract). Gastroenterology 72:1133, 1977 Google Scholar4. O'DONOGHUEDAWSONPOWELL-TUCKBROWNLENNARD-JONES DAJRJ: Double-blind withdrawal trial of azathioprine as maintenance treatment for Crohn's disease. Lancet 2:955-957, 1978 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. PRESENTWISCHGLASSKORELITZ DNJA: The efficacy of immunosupressive therapy in Crohn's disease. A randomized long term double blind study (abstract). Gastroenterology 72:1114, 1977 Google Scholar6. SPARBERGKIRSNER MJ: Long-term corticosteroid therapy for regional enteritis: an analysis of 58 courses in 54 patients. Am J Dig Dis 11:865-880, 1966 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. COOKEFIELDING WJ: Corticosteroid or corticotrophin therapy in Crohn's disease. Gut 11:921-927 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. SUMMERSSESSIONSSWITZSINGLETON RJDJ: National Cooperative Crohn's Disease Study (NCCDS): response of subgroups to drug treatment (abstract). Gastroenterology 74:1100, 1978 CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. BERGMANKRAUSE LU: Postoperative treatment with corticosteroids and salazosulphapyridene (Salazopyrin®) after radical resection for Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 11:651-656, 1976 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. SMITHRHODESHEATLEYHUGHESCROSBYREESJONESEVANSLAWRIE RJRLDBHKB: Low-dose steroids and clinical relapse in Crohn's disease: a controlled trial. Gut 19:606-610, 1978 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Department of Medicine University of Colorado Medical Center Denver, Colorado PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPolyunsaturated fat in the diet may improve intestinal function in patients with Crohn's disease 1 June 1979Volume 90, Issue 6Page: 983-984KeywordsCrohn's diseaseDrug therapyUlcerative colitis Issue Published: 1 June 1979 PDF downloadLoading ...