Rebamipide enema therapy for left-sided ischemic colitis patients accompanied by ulcers: open label study

To attempt rectal administration of rebamipide in the treatment of ischemic colitis patients with ulcers, and evaluate its effects.

We compared 9 ischemic colitis patients (2 men, 7 women) with ulcers treated by bowel rest only from 2000 to 2005 (conventional therapy group), with 6 patients (2 men, 4 women) treated by rebamipide enema therapy in 2006 (rebamipide enema therapy group) and analyzed the mean duration of fasting and hospitalization, degree of ulcer healing, and decrease in WBC count for the two groups.

The mean duration of fasting and hospitalization were 2.7+/-1.8 d and 9.2+/-1.5 d in the rebamipide group and 7.9+/-4.1 d and 17.9+/-6.8 d in the control group, respectively, and significantly reduced in the rebamipide group (t= -2.915; P=0.0121 and t= -3.054; P=0.0092). As for the degree of ulcer healing at 7 d after admission, the ulcer score was reduced by 3.5+/-0.5 (points) in the rebamipide group and 2.8+/-0.5 (points) in the control group (t=1.975; P=0.0797), while the decrease in WBC count was 120.0+/-55.8 (x 10(2)/microL) in the rebamipide group and 85.9+/-56.8 (x 10(2)/microL) in the control group (t=1.006; P=0.3360).

In left-sided ischemic colitis patients with ulcers, rebamipide enema therapy significantly reduced the duration of fasting and hospitalization, recommending its use as a new and effective therapeutic alternative.