Is continuous sulfasalazine necessary in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis? Results of a preliminary study.

The efficacy of continuous and "on-demand" sulfasalazine in the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis was tested in a randomized trial. Patients were reviewed at four monthly intervals for one year. Twenty-eight patients completed the trial. Ten took continuous sulfasalazine and three relapsed, while 18 took "on-demand" sulfasalazine and seven relapsed (N.S.). Rectal biopsies from each patient group were compared at each attendance, and no significant difference in histologic score was found. It is concluded that "on-demand" sulfasalazine may be as effective as continuous sulfasalazine in the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis.