Sodium cromoglycate for use in the gut (nalcrom)

Abstract

Sulphasalazine (Salazopyrin) and corticosteroids are the mainstay of drug treatment for proctocolitis (ulcerative colitis and proctitis). Sulphasalazine is particularly effective in maintaining the disease in remission, and corticosteroids in treating the acute attack. Nevertheless some patients with proctocolitis have frequent relapses or have symptoms which do not respond to these or other medical treatment, and occasional patients are hypersensitive to or intolerant of sulphasalazine. An oral preparation of sodium cromoglycate (SCG; Nalcrom - Fisons) has been developed in the hope that it would benefit some of these patients. It has also been tried in the treatment of food allergies.