A double-blind comparison of the effectiveness of azathioprine and sulfasalazine in idiopathic proctocolitis

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Abstract
A double-blind therapeutic trial of azathioprine in 20 patients with acute proctocolitis was performed over a 3-month period. Azathioprine was compared with sulfasalazine in patients paired and treated in a sequential order. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, biopsy, and radiologic data were assessed by semiquantitative criteria. No significant difference in the effect of the drugs was observed. Both azathioprine and sulfasalazine produce significant improvement in clinical symptoms, some laboratory findings (ESR, serum iron), and endoscopic and biopsy findings (PPP<0.10). This short-term trial confirms previous uncontrolled experiences of one of the authors on larger series of patients.