Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Chinese Herbal Retention Enema for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
Published on: May 16, 2025
High-dose mesalazine treatment for ulcerative colitis patients who relapse under low-dose maintenance therapy
Takayuki Yamamoto1, Satoru Umegae, Koichi Matsumoto
1Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Yokkaichi Social Insurance Hospital, 10-8 Hazuyamacho, Yokkaichi, Mie 510-0016, Japan. nao-taka@sannet.ne.jp
Background:
Mesalazine is often used to maintain remission in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Aim:
To investigate if increasing the dose of mesalazine is safe and effective for patients with ulcerative colitis who relapse under low-dose maintenance therapy.
Methods:
Ninety consecutive patients who relapsed during maintenance therapy with oral mesalazine at 1.5-2.25g/day were included. All patients had mildly or moderately active ulcerative colitis at entry, and were treated with oral mesalazine at 4.0g/day for the following 8 weeks. At entry and week 8, endoscopic examinations were carried out to assess the severity of endoscopic inflammation. The primary as well as the secondary endpoints were clinical and endoscopic improvements at week 8.
Results:
No patient experienced any serious side effect, and the treatment with 4.0g/day mesalazine over the 8 week period was well tolerated by all patients. Fifty-nine patients (66%) achieved clinical improvement in stool frequency and/or rectal bleeding including 40 (44%) with clinical remission (normal stool frequency and no rectal bleeding). Forty-three patients (48%) showed endoscopic improvement including 25 (28%) with endoscopic remission.
Conclusions:
Increasing the dose of mesalazine up to 4.0g/day appeared to be safe and effective for patients who relapsed under low-dose, 1.5-2.25g/day maintenance therapy.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
