5-Aminosalicylates to maintain remission in Crohn's disease: Interpreting conflicting systematic review evidence

5-Aminosalicylates are a class of anti-inflammatory agents that have been used for decades in inflammatory bowel disease. Whilst they are first line for induction and an option for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis, the picture in Crohn's disease is variable. For maintenance of remission, key Cochrane systematic reviews have found conflicting results between the medical and surgical induced contexts. In this piece, the possible reasons for this are considered. It is proposed that clinicians should consider 5-aminosalicylates agents an option to maintain remission post-surgery. Future primary research is needed in the medical induced remission setting which considers the length of remission on enrolment and endoscopic or histological disease scores. Additionally, secondary research to rank the various treatment options in the post-surgical setting could be achieved through the use of network meta-analysis and will guide policy makers in the future.