Open AccessAntiinflammatory effects of enterically coated amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid in active ulcerative colitis
Author(s) -
Casellas F.,
Borruel N.,
Papo M.,
Guarner F.,
Antolín M.,
Videla S.,
Malagelada J.R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
inflammatory bowel diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.932
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1536-4844
pISSN - 1078-0998
DOI - 10.1002/ibd.3780040102
Subject(s) - ulcerative colitis , medicine , gastroenterology , amoxicillin , amoxicillin/clavulanic acid , antibiotics , lactulose , inflammatory bowel disease , clavulanic acid , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , disease
The inflammatory activity of colonic mucosal lesions may be stimulated by intraluminal bacteria. Our aim was to investigate whether administration of broad‐spectrum antibiotics decreases inflammatory activity in ulcerative colitis. To this end, we performed a randomized, 5‐day study with either oral enterically coated amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (1 g + 250 mg, t.i.d.); i.v. methylprednisolone (40 mg/day) and oral placebo (t.i.d.); or both i.v. methylprednisolone and oral amoxicillin–clavulanic acid as above, in 30 patients with clinically active ulcerative colitis. Before and after 5 days of treatment, intestinal inflammation was assessed by the quantification of mucosal release of eicosanoids and interleukin‐8 by rectal dialysis in each patient. Breath H 2 excretion after oral lactulose was determined as an index of metabolic activity of colonic flora. The total release of (IL‐8) interleukin‐8 and eicosanoids significantly decreased in patients treated with antibiotic or steroids and antibiotic. Antibiotic treatment, but not steroids, markedly inhibited breath H 2 excretion. In conclusion, short‐term treatment with enteric‐coated amoxicillin–clavulanic acid decreases the intraluminal release of IL‐8 and other inflammatory mediators.