[Clinical effectiveness of various budesonide preparations in Crohn disease]

Budesonide in the pH-dependent and time-dependent release preparation is at a dose of 9 mg/day useful for treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease. Although the remission rates are somewhat lower as compared to systemic steroids, the number of side effects is significantly decreased. Differences between both preparations based on theoretical and pharmacological considerations have not yet been proven in clinical practice. With regard to maintenance of steroid-induced remission the data available do not justify continuous treatment. This is also true for postoperative remission maintenance. It is not clear at the moment if higher doses could possibly be effective for this indication. It has to be expected, however, that side effects than will increase as well.