Abstract
The goal of managing patients with chronic disease is to maintain remission, reduce complications and maximize quality of life. Treatment of ulcerative colitis often falls short of these goals because patients receive suboptimal levels of medication because of poor adherence. For many chronic diseases, medication is given just once daily and this has been shown to increase adherence. This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings of a trial by Kamm et al. which was the first to compare mesalazine (Lialda®/Mezavant ™ [Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., Florence, KY] with MMX® technology [Cosmo, Lainate, Italy]) 2.4g taken once daily with MMX® mesalazine 1.2g taken twice daily for the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. The authors concluded that once-daily therapy is safe and effective. After 12 months, full remission and clinical remission was sustained in 64.4% and 88.9%, respectively, of patients who received once-daily therapy. Such scheduling is likely to improve adherence, help maintain remission and improve quality of life.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Rutter M et al. (2004) Severity of inflammation is a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia in ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology 126: 451–459
Rubin D et al. (2008) Colorectal cancer prevention in inflammatory bowel disease and the role of 5-aminosalicylic acid: A clinical review and update. Inflamm Bowel Dis 14: 265–274
Kamm MA et al. (2008) Randomised trial of once- or twice-daily MMX mesalazine for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Gut 57: 893–902
Kane SV et al. (2001) Prevalence of nonadherence with maintenance mesalamine in quiescent ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 96: 2929–2933
Bloom BS (1988) Direct medical costs of disease and gastrointestinal side effects during treatment for arthritis. Am J Med 84 (Suppl 2a): 20–24
Eisen SA et al. (1990) The effect of prescribed daily dose frequency on patient medication compliance. Arch Intern Med 150: 1881–1884
Kruis W et al. (2007) Once daily dosing of 3 g mesalamaine (Salofalk® granules) is therapeutic equivalent to a three-times daily dosing of 1 g mesalamine for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology 132 (Suppl 1): A130–A131
Dignass A et al. (2007) Once- versus twice-daily mesalazine (Pentasa) granules for the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis: Results from a multinational randomised controlled trial. Gut 57 (Suppl 1): A1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
CSJ Probert has received grant/research funding from Dr Falk Pharma GmbH, Ferring, Procter & Gamble, and Shire. He is also a Consultant, and is on the Speakers bureau for these companies.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Probert, C. Is once-daily dosing of mesalazine effective for maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 5, 596–597 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1255
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1255
