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Evidence summaries

Oral Pentasa in the Treatment of Active Crohn's Disease

Pentasa may decrease the activity of Crohn's disease compared with placebo in patients with active disease. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review 1 including 3 studies with a total of 615 subjects was abstracted in DARE. Adult patients were treated with Pentasa 4 g/day for active Crohn's disease. The study duration was 16 weeks. For the intent-to-treat patients in the Pentasa groups, the overall mean reduction of the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) from baseline to the final visit was -63 points in the Pentasa group. The corresponding CDAI change in the placebo groups was -45 points; the net difference was -18 points (95% CI -35 to -1, P=0.04). This result was confirmed when the analysis was repeated for the protocol-correct patients (WMD -25, 95% CI -46 to -3, P=0.02). The clinical significance of the magnitude of the observed difference is not clear.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in review quality (limited search and lack of reporting of review methods) and by imprecise results (wide confidence intervals).

    References

    • Hanauer SB, Strömberg U. Oral Pentasa in the treatment of active Crohn's disease: A meta-analysis of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2004 May;2(5):379-88. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords