The Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

During the period from 1940 to 1952,422 patients suffering from ulcerative colitis were treated in the Medical Department of the Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm. The outpatients are not included in this number. Out of the above-mentioned 422 patients 387 were treated with Salazopyrin, which drug has also been called Azopyrin or Azulfidine-(produced by N. Svartz in collaboration with the Company Pharmacia, in Sweden). This drug is an azo compound between salicylic acid and sulfapyridine. It was produced with the idea of obtaining a medical drug that had an affinity to connective tissue. Fluorescence microscopic investigations carried out by S. Helander confirmed that Azulfidine has a marked affinity to connective tissue and particularly to tissue rich in elastin. Helander also found that all acid azocompounds, but not the alkaline ones, have this same affinity. Since the main changes in cases of ulcerative colitis are localized within the submucous connective tissue it is bound to be advantageous to treat the affection with a substance of the type in question, provided that the ingredients of which it is composed are effective upon the existing inflammatory process. The drug has also been tried in connection with other pathological conditions that are localized in the connective tissue. Important investigations into the treatment of ulcerative colitis with Azulfidine have been presented by Bargen, Morrison, Collins, Lagercrantz, Hillemand and others.