Folate deficiency in operated terminal ileitis (Crohn's disease)

In a series of 39 subjects previous results for serum folate levels were confirmed while intraglobular folate did not differ from those in a control group. To verify the hypothesis that SASP administration could be responsible for serum folate deficiency three different sub-groups were considered. 11 patients had never taken SASP (sub-group I), 16 patients had taken SASP in the past but the treatment had been withheld at least 2 months before (sub-group II), 12 patients were still taking the drug at the time of the study (sub-group III). Differences in serum folate levels between each one of the three sub-groups and the control group were significant. The same was not true for the differences between each one of the three sub-groups and the other. These findings seem to confirm that SASP treatment is not the major cause of serum folate deficiency, but a multifactorial pathogenesis might account for it.