Ridogrel enemas in distal ulcerative colitis

Objective To evaluate the effect of Ridogrel enemas (Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium) on disease activity and mucosal inflammatory mediators in patients with active left-sided ulcerative colitis. Design and methods Eleven patients with active left-sided ulcerative colitis were evaluated in an open nonplacebo-controlled pilot study. All patients were treated with Ridogrel enemas (300 mg/40 ml once daily) over four weeks. A disease activity score based on clinical, endoscopic and histological criteria was obtained before and after treatment with Ridogrel. The concentrations of thromboxane B-2 (TxB(2)), prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), interteukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in mucosal biopsies before and after treatment, Results One patient discontinued treatment because of progression of disease, the other ten patients tolerated the Ridogrel enemas well, Mucosal TxB(2) concentration decreased significantly in all patients, The mucosal concentrations of the other inflammatory mediators (PGE(2,) IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were unaltered. The disease score decreased in five patients. However, clinical improvement was not always associated with a decrease in endoscopic and/or histological scores. Conclusions This pilot study shows that Ridogrel enemas selectively reduce mucosal TxB(2) concentration. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13:397-400 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.