Oral pH-modified release budesonide for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis.

BACKGROUND

Budesonide is a glucocorticoid with high topical glucocorticoid activity and low systemic availability. Oral pH-modified release budesonide has been investigated for the treatment of various inflammatory intestinal diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To summarise the investigational data of oral pH-modified release budesonide for the treatment of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.

METHODS

Assessment of all published (full paper or meeting abstract) clinical studies with oral pH-modified release budesonide for the treatment of inflammatory intestinal diseases.

RESULTS/

CONCLUSION

Oral pH-modified release budesonide induces remission in mild-to-moderately active Crohn's disease of the ileum and/or ascending colon. This drug is useful to replace conventional systemic glucocorticoids in patients with ileocoecal Crohn's disease. Open-label studies showed efficacy in ulcerative colitis, but this finding has to be confirmed in controlled trials. Oral pH-modified release budesonide is also effective for the treatment of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.