Teaching Points
- Sulfasalazine is degraded by intestinal flora to sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalamine).
- The release of a high concentration of salicylates in the colon exerts anti-inflammatory action, the major benefit of the use of sulfasalazine in treating ulcerative colitis.
- Mesalamine is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase. It decreases the formation of inflammatory eicosanoids.
- Depending on the extent of the disease, sulfasalazine can be given orally, rectally, or both.
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