Retrograde colonic spread of sulphasalazine enemas

In five patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in two healthy control subjects retrograde spread and colonic distribution of rectally introduced sulphasalazine (SASP) enema were investigated. The SASP enema was labeled with 99mTc and imaged by a gamma camera. In all patients the SASP enema reached the inflamed portion of the colon. From 73% to 84% of the total SASP enema were fairly homogeneously distributed beyond the patients' rectum. The results suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease may benefit from SASP enemas even if the total colon is involved.