I. Salicylazosufapyridine Suppositories (SAPS) in Ulcerative Colitis

During the period from September, 1976 to March, 1978, 21 patients with ulcerative colitis were treated with daily transanal administration of 1 to 4 of SAPS, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated with 19 patients. Of 15 patients with slight and moderate colitis, 9 (60 %) improved and 4 had a relapse after a temporal remission with SAPS. In the remainning 2 patients, the treatment was discontinued because of acute aggravation and severe tenesmus. Of 4 patients who had subtotal colectomy and ileoproctostomy, 2 patients have been well on SAPS, but the other 2 had a relapse within 6 months after operation. It seemed very important that 7 patients (37 %) who had a relapse or acute aggravation with SAPS, hadreceived a large dose of steroid hormone preveously because of the moderate to severe lesions on the left or entire colon. As to side effects in relation to acute aggravation, tenesmus and mild diarrhoea were observed in only 4 patients. The results obtained in the treatment with SAPS suggested that, although a few patients had a relapse, SAPS was effective in patients with proctitis and typical ulcerative colitis on the distal portion of the colon.