Long-term effects of a single course of nicotine treatment in acute ulcerative colitis: remission maintenance in a 12-month follow-up study

Abstract 

Patients with mild to moderate active colitis who are treated with mesalazine plus transdermal nicotine reportedly suffer fewer relapses than patients treated with mesalazine plus oral prednisone. A long-term follow-up period was carried out to confirm this. Thirty patients with remission of distal colitis after therapy with the above treatment schedules were monitored for 12 months (Rachmilewitz’ activity index plus endoscopy). Relapsed patients were retreated in a cross-over fashion. After 12 months recurrences were observed in 14 of 15 patients initially treated with steroids and in 7 of 15 subjects who were had received transdermal nicotine (P=0.007, Fisher’s test). A higher proportion of relapsed patients from the prednisone group, after successful retreatment with nicotine patches, remained in remission after 6 months (20%) than relapsed patients who switched to steroid treatment (57%). Our present results confirm the concept that nicotine-induced remission of ulcerative colitis lasts longer than that obtained by oral corticosteroids.