A Controlled Trial of Alternate Day Prednisolone as a Maintenance Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis in Remission

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Abstract
A double-blind crossover trial compared prednisolone, 40 mg given orally on alternate days, with placebo as a maintenance treatment for ulcerative colitis in remission. In each patient, the study was over two periods of 3 months. Of 24 patients who completed both periods, 11 relapsed while taking placebo but did not while taking prednisolone, and 1 relapsed on prednisolone but did not on placebo (p < 0.01). 1 patient had to stop prednisolone because of hyperglycaemia; other side effects noted were mild. Prednisolone, cautiously used in this way, could be justified for the few patients who relapse frequently despite sulphasalazine.