Sulphasalazine and prednisone compared with sulphasalazine for treating active Crohn disease: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter trial

Article Abstract:

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition of the intestines characterized by diarrhea and abdominal pain, and often complicated by infections and blockages of the intestines. Treatment generally consists of drugs that suppress the immune system, and thus the inflammatory response. Two such drugs are sulphasalazine (an immunosuppressive drug) that is often used when the disease is mild, and prednisone (a steroid) that is frequently reserved for severe disease. Whether the effects of the two drugs might be additive is unknown. A total of 60 patients with active Crohn's disease were divided into groups of 30. Half received a combination of sulphasalazine and prednisone, and half received sulphasalazine and placebo. In the first six weeks of treatment, disease activity decreased at a faster rate in the patients given the combination of sulphasalazine and prednisone. After 16 weeks, there were no significant differences between the groups as a result of either treatment. In the last four weeks of the study, only those patients with the most severe disease continued to show benefit from the combination of the two drugs. Patients with severe disease who were given both sulphasalazine and prednisone had less frequent diarrhea, less abdominal pain, and reported a greater sense of well-being than those given sulphasalazine alone. This suggests that this combination regimen offers some benefit to patients with severe Crohn disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Crohn's disease, Sulfasalazine

---

Sustained remission of membranous glomerulonephritis after cyclophosphamide and prednisone

Article Abstract:

One form of kidney disease known as idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis is manifested by large amounts of protein in the urine, swelling, and progressive kidney failure, which occurs in at least half of the patients affected. Ten patients were given a combination of the drugs cyclophosphamide, which suppresses the immune system, and prednisone, a steroid, each of which has been used separately to treat idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis. The edema, or swelling, that the patients had resolved within three months, and the amount of protein wasted in the urine decreased in all 10 as well. A kidney biopsy was done in three of the patients, and despite clinical improvement, all three biopsies showed persistent evidence of the disease. Kidney function improved in all 10 patients, and remained good at one year after therapy. One patient did have some worsening of his kidney function after 18 months, but by using the same regimen, he achieved a second remission of his disease. The combination of cyclophosphamide and prednisone appears to produce at least short-term remission in patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis, but the long-term consequences of the treatment are unknown. Cyclophosphamide is associated with the development of tumors, hair loss, and sterility, and this must be considered when deciding on therapy for kidney disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Complications and side effects, Glomerulonephritis, Cyclophosphamide

---

Combining methotrexate with prednisone to treat temporal arteritis

Article Abstract:

The drug methotrexate may be effective in combination with prednisone for treating temporal arteritis. This condition is caused by an inflammation of the artery that supplies blood to the eyes.

Methotrexate, Giant cell arteritis, Temporal arteritis

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Treatment of leiomyomata uteri with leuprolide acetate depot: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study
• Abstracts: Infections in HIV-infected travelers: risks and prevention. Preventing infectious diseases during and after international adoption
• Abstracts: Successful outcome of pregnancy with severe hypothyroidism: case report and literature review. Increased platelet turnover in a patient with previous recurrent pre-eclampsia and failure of aspirin therapy. Case report
• Abstracts: Superoxide production by Crohn's disease neutrophils. Candidacidal activity of Crohn's disease neutrophils. Antibody to selected strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's and brewer's yeast) and Candida albicans in Crohn's disease
• Abstracts: Children in and of the streets: health, social policy and the homeless young. Health and social conditions of street children in Honduras

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.