Efficacy of a pH-dependent controlled-release mesalazine based on clinical and endoscopic assessment for ulcerative colitis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND We conducted a retrospective cohort study to clinically and endoscopically assess the efficacy of delayed-release mesalazine for ulcerative colitis. METHODS The study included 104 ulcerative colitis patients (52 men, 52 women) initiated on treatment with delayed-release mesalazine between 2009 and 2012. The clinical symptoms at months 0, 1, and 12 were scored using the clinical activity index. An endoscopic index was also used to determine disease activity in 72 patients who underwent total colonoscopy before and after mesalazine treatment. RESULTS The clinical activity index at months 0, 1, and 12 were 4.6±2.8, 3.4±1.8, and 2.8±1.4, respectively, decreasing with time after the start of mesalazine treatment (P<0.001). The endoscopic index decreased significantly from 4.5±3.2 before to 3.1±2.8 after the start of delayed-release mesalazine treatment in the mean follow-up period of 1.0±0.4 years (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Delayed-release mesalazine was confirmed to be effective both clinically and endoscopically.