[Sulindac in familial adenomatous polyposis coli--preliminary findings of a prospective study]

Several authors have reported regression of rectal polyps after administration of sulindac in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and subtotal colectomy. However, only a few reports have been published about the effect of sulindac in the intact colon of FAP-patients. 12 patients (FAP n = 10, Lynch-I-syndrome n = 1, juvenile polyposis n = 1/patient with intact colon n = 6, ileorectal anastomosis n = 4, right-sided hemicolectomy n = 2) have been treated with sulindac (3 x 100 mg/d orally) for 4 months. In all patients colonoscopy (if postcolectomy, rectoscopy) with videotape documentation was performed before and after sulindac therapy. Some polyps were excised for histology. In 11/12 patients a regression of the number and size of polyps occurred. In addition, in patients with intact colon no polyps were observed proximal to the sigmoid colon. In one patient sulindac had to be discontinued after 4 weeks' course because of abdominal pain. A control colonoscopy revealed only slight reduction in polyps. In 3/12 patients no polyps remained after sulindac. In a further 3/12 patients with initial tubulous adenomatous polyps, only microadenomas were observed after treatment. We therefore conclude that sulindac is effective in FAP-patients (and very probably in other hereditary polyposis syndromes) with intact colon as well as after (hemi-)colectomy in reducing the number and size of polyps. Long term studies are needed to clarify the optimal dosage, treatment time period, and long term potential for development of carcinoma under sulindac treatment.