THERAPY OF CROHNS-DISEASE WITH METRONIDAZOLE - UNCONTROLLED TRIAL

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (3) , 217-221
Abstract
Patients (12) with Crohn''s disease (CD) in whom there was no improvement of symptoms and signs under protracted corticosteroid and salicylazosulfapyridine medication were treated with 1000 mg metronidazole (M) daily. Crohn''s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used as a criterion of therapeutic response. Patients (7) showed improvement of symptoms with a concomitant fall of the CDAI from 300 .+-. 84 to 56 .+-. 32 (mean .+-. SD) after 10-45 days. In 1 patient therapeutic success was doubtful, and a negative result was obtained in 4 patients. During follow-up, which was maximally 21 mo., patients failed to relapse while receiving an M maintenance dose of 250 and 500 mg/day. Judicious attempts at drug withdrawal were undertaken during the 1st 6 mo. but were invariably followed by a relapse. M given over a protracted period did not cause side-effects. A reduction of intestinal anaerobic bacterial invaders may underlie the therapeutic effect of M.

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