Is once-daily dosing of mesalazine effective for maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis?

The goal of managing patients with chronic disease is to maintain remission, reduce complications and maximize quality of life. Treatment of ulcerative colitis often falls short of these goals because patients receive suboptimal levels of medication because of poor adherence. For many chronic diseases, medication is given just once daily and this has been shown to increase adherence. This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings of a trial by Kamm et al., which was the first to compare mesalazine (Lialda (R)/Mezavant (TM) [Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., Florence, KY] with MMX (R) technology [Cosmo, Lainate, Italy]) 2.4 g taken once daily with MMX (R) mesalazine 1.2 g taken twice daily for the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. The authors concluded that once- daily therapy is safe and effective. After 12 months, full remission and clinical remission was sustained in 64.4% and 88.9%, respectively, of patients who received once- daily therapy. Such scheduling is likely to improve adherence, help maintain remission and improve quality of life.