Solitary Rectal Ulcer (SRU) is usually a disease of young adults of either sex which has a characteristic appearance at sigmoidoscopy and a typical histological picture. The cause of SRU is unknown. Medical therapy is usually inadequate and there is no agreement on which drugs are indicated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of the topical therapy with Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) administered in the form of enemas. From January 1991 to december 1992, 7 consecutive patients with SRU were seen at the Gastroenterology Unit of Florence, (4 women and 3 men; mean age: 43 years, range 20-69). The diagnosis was confirmed by colonoscopy and by histological examination. All patients had blood and mucus in the stool, and experienced pain in the rectum or the left iliac fossa which increased with defecation. The mean duration of symptoms was 19 months (range 4-48). Six patients received the SCFA enema once daily for 8 weeks. After this treatment, the symptoms disappeared in all patients. Five of the six patients remain in remission after a follow-up of 4 to 12 months. A recurrence was observed in the sixth patient after 4 months of treatment. This preliminary report suggests that SCFA enemas can be helpful in SRU.
Treatment of solitary rectal ulcer with short-chain fatty acid enemas
Amorosi A.;
1994-01-01
Abstract
Solitary Rectal Ulcer (SRU) is usually a disease of young adults of either sex which has a characteristic appearance at sigmoidoscopy and a typical histological picture. The cause of SRU is unknown. Medical therapy is usually inadequate and there is no agreement on which drugs are indicated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of the topical therapy with Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) administered in the form of enemas. From January 1991 to december 1992, 7 consecutive patients with SRU were seen at the Gastroenterology Unit of Florence, (4 women and 3 men; mean age: 43 years, range 20-69). The diagnosis was confirmed by colonoscopy and by histological examination. All patients had blood and mucus in the stool, and experienced pain in the rectum or the left iliac fossa which increased with defecation. The mean duration of symptoms was 19 months (range 4-48). Six patients received the SCFA enema once daily for 8 weeks. After this treatment, the symptoms disappeared in all patients. Five of the six patients remain in remission after a follow-up of 4 to 12 months. A recurrence was observed in the sixth patient after 4 months of treatment. This preliminary report suggests that SCFA enemas can be helpful in SRU.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
