Abstract
Background
Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor used for the treatment of 5-Amino-salicylic acid (5-ASA) and systematic corticosteroid refractory ulcerative colitis. However, systemic administration of tacrolimus could lead to many adverse events. Therefore, we used tacrolimus suppositories as a local therapeutic agent and examined its efficacy and safety with strict blood concentration monitoring.
Methods
Sixteen patients with ulcerative colitis were administered a 0.5-mg tacrolimus suppository once daily. In cases with an insufficient clinical effect, additional amounts, at an increment of 0.5 mg of tacrolimus, were administered. The blood concentration was measured two weeks after the start of treatment or any dose change and every four weeks thereafter.
Results
The partial Mayo score was 5.31 before the start of treatment, and it decreased significantly after 2 (2.56, P = 0.001), 4 (1.53, P < 0.001), and 8 (1.47, P = < 0.001) weeks of treatment. The median duration of tacrolimus treatment was 24 (range 2–96) weeks, and 6 patients were treated continuously for more than one year after the pMayo score improved. No exacerbation of adverse events during the treatment regimen was observed. The effects and safety of tacrolimus suppositories were verified with strict blood concentration monitoring.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the application of tacrolimus suppositories is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis.
One-year investigator-blind randomized multicenter trial comparing asacol 2.4 g once daily with 800 mg three times daily for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis
