Transdermal Nicotine for Ulcerative Colitis: Reply
Authors: William J. Sandborn
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Letters15 September 1997Transdermal Nicotine for Ulcerative Colitis: ReplyWilliam J. Sandborn, MD, William J. Tremaine, MD, and Richard D. Hurt, MDWilliam J. Sandborn, MDMayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55905Search for more papers by this author, William J. Tremaine, MDMayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55905Search for more papers by this author, and Richard D. Hurt, MDMayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55905Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-127-6-199709150-00021 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Drs. Mogadam, Ando, and Guslandi and Tittobello raise many interesting points. Dr. Mogadam states that a 30% response (39% for nicotine compared with 9% for placebo) is not clinically meaningful. We strongly disagree. Studies of drugs that we accept as efficacious for ulcerative colitis and that led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval had very similar response rates. For example, Asacol (mesalamine, Procter & Gamble, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio) at 2.4 g/d showed 26% clinical improvement (49% for Asacol and 23% for placebo) [1], and Pentasa (mesalamine, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Kansas City, Missouri) at 4.0 g/d showed 23% ...References1. Sninsky CA, Cort DH, Shanahan F, Powers BJ, Sessions JT, Pruitt RE, et al. Oral mesalamine (Asacol) for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis. Ann Intern Med. 1991; 115:350-5. Google Scholar2. Hanauer S, Schwartz J, Robinson M, Roufail W, Arora S, Cello J, et al. Mesalamine capsules for treatment of active ulcerative colitis: results of a controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 1993; 88:1188-97. Google Scholar3. Hecht SS, Hofmann D. The relevance of tobacco-specific nitrosamines to human cancer. Cancer Surveys. 1989; 8:273-94. Google Scholar4. Carmella SG, Borukhova A, Desai D, Hecht SS. Evidence for endogenous formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in rats treated with tobacco alkaloids and sodium nitrite. Carcinogenesis. 1997; 18:587-92. Google Scholar5. Sandborn WJ, Tremaine WJ, Leighton JA, Lawson GM, Zins BJ, Compton RF, et al. Nicotine tartrate liquid enemas for mildly to moderately active, left-sided ulcerative colitis unresponsive to first-line therapy: a pilot study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1997; [In press]. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Mayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55905 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByObjective Assessment of Clinical Disease ActivitySpicing up the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Ulcerative ColitisActivity Indices-Based Assessment of Disease Activity in Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseA Review of Activity Indices and Efficacy End Points for Clinical Trials of Medical Therapy in Adults With Ulcerative Colitis 15 September 1997Volume 127, Issue 6Page: 492KeywordsCancer treatmentCarcinogensCorticosteroid therapyDrugsNicotineParkinson diseaseSafetySafety studiesUlcerative colitisUrine Issue Published: 15 September 1997 CopyrightCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...