Posted 3/5/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I will let you make your own conclusions by reading these abstracts. Anyways, I enjoy answering these questions.
If you want top read the full article, I suggest you go to the library and ask for journal articles. I have included the journals and the abstracts below.
Gisbert JP. Gonzalez-Lama Y. Mate J. 5-Aminosalicylates and renal function in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review. [Review] [95 refs] [Journal Article. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't. Review] Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 13(5):629-38, 2007 May.
UI: 17243140
Nephrotoxicity has been described in some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Studies with 5-ASA treatment in which serum creatinine or creatinine clearance was measured regularly show that nephrotoxicity is exceptional (mean rate of only 0.26% per patient-year). There have been several case reports, including 46 patients, of renal disease associated with 5-ASA treatment in patients with IBD. 5-ASA treatment-related nephrotoxicity is reported most often within the first 12 months, but also delayed presentation after several years has been shown. The absence of a clear relationship between 5-ASA dose and the risk of nephrotoxicity suggests that this complication is idiosyncratic rather than dose-related. Most of the patients with renal disease associated with 5-ASA treatment suffered interstitial nephritis, with symptoms and signs being nonspecific, which may delay detection for many months. The nephrotoxicity potential of mesalazine and sulfasalazine seems to be similar. The risk with different oral preparations of 5-ASA is probably too small to influence the choice of agent. Mesalazine should be withdrawn when renal impairment manifests in a patient with IBD; if this does not result in a fall in serum creatinine, then renal biopsy should be considered. A trial of high-dose steroid may be recommended in patients whose renal function does not respond to drug withdrawal. The optimal monitoring schedule of serum creatinine in patients receiving 5-ASA treatment remains to be established, as there is no evidence to date that either the test, or the frequency of testing, improves patient outcomes.
Herrlinger KR. Noftz MK. Fellermann K. Schmidt K. Steinhoff J. Stange EF. Minimal renal dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease is related to disease activity but not to 5-ASA use. [Journal Article] Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 15(3):363-9, 2001 Mar.
UI: 11207511
BACKGROUND: Conflicting data exist about proteinuria in inflammatory bowel diseases. It is still unclear whether the occurrence of proteinuria in inflammatory bowel disease patients is an extra-intestinal manifestation of disease or the result of adverse effects to medication, especially to aminosalicylates (ASA). METHODS: A total of 95 patients (51 with Crohn's disease and 44 with ulcerative colitis) were enrolled in the study. Disease activity was assessed by Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) or the Truelove index, respectively. Urine was collected over 24 h and protein excretion of specific marker proteins for tubular (alpha 1-microglobulin-alpha 1-MG) and glomerular (albumin-Alb, Immunoglobulin G-IgG) dysfunction was measured using a highly sensitive immunoluminometric assay. RESULTS: Out of 51 Crohn's disease patients, 20 showed elevated urinary alpha 1-MG. The amount of alpha 1-MGuria was strongly correlated to the CDAI (r=0.6, P < 0.001). Only four Crohn's disease patients showed slightly elevated values for glomerular proteins in urine. Similar results were obtained for ulcerative colitis: whereas only two ulcerative colitis patients showed albuminuria, tubular proteinuria was detected in 28 out of 44 ulcerative colitis patients. Proteinuria was strongly dependent on disease activity (P < 0.01) but was not related to ASA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria of tubular marker proteins occurs in the majority of inflammatory bowel disease patients and is related to disease activity rather than to ASA treatment. Tubular proteinuria seems to reflect a renal extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease and may serve as a new relevant marker of disease activity.
Birketvedt GS. Berg KJ. Fausa O. Florholmen J. Glomerular and tubular renal functions after long-term medication of sulphasalazine, olsalazine, and mesalazine in patients with ulcerative colitis. [Journal Article. Multicenter Study. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't] Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 6(4):275-9, 2000 Nov.
UI: 11149559
To date there are only few reports evaluating the potential nephrotoxic reactions of the new 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) preparations in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to screen the tubular and glomerular functions in patients with UC in maintenance treatment with either 5-ASA azo-compounds (sulphasalazine and olsalazine) or mesalazine. Patients with UC in clinical remission treated with either sulphasalazine, olsalazine, or mesalazine for more than 1 year were included in an open, single-blind retrospective Norwegian multicenter study. Serum and urine creatinine, serum and urine beta2-microglobulin, urine N-acetyl-beta-glucoseamidase (NAG), urine alkaline phosphatase, urine microalbumin, urine alanine amino peptidase, and urine beta2-microglobulin were measured. Fifty-two females and 75 males (n = 127), ages 20-69, were evaluated. Thirty-six patients were treated with sulphasalazine (mean treatment time 10.1+/-6.6 years [mean +/- SD]), 32 patients were treated with olsalazine (2.3+/-1.4 years), and 59 patients with mesalazine (3.2+/-2.0 years). At inclusion, there were no significant differences in the serum or urine values between the groups. In 17 patients (1 patient [3%] in the sulphasalazine group, 4 patients [13%] in the olsalazine group, and 12 patients [20%] in the mesalazine group), at least one abnormal serum and/or urine value was detected. After 10 years of treatment, only one abnormal value was found among the 19 patients in the sulphasalazine group. The abnormal values observed in the other groups indicated minor glomerular or tubular renal damage. In conclusion, long term sulphasalazine treatment appears to be safe and free of nephrotoxic side effects, whereas minor glomerular and tubular impairment are observed in a few patients treated with olsalazine and mesalazine.