CONVENTIONAL DRUG-THERAPY IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

The conventional treatment of inflammatory bowel disease should be dir ected at the extent and severity of disease. One of the many formulati ons of the Ei-aminosalicylic acid preparations should be used for indu ction and maintenance of remission. Glucocorticoids, either topical or systemic, are important adjuncts to therapy. In those patients who ar e unable to be tapered from glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive drugs, such as 6- mercaptopurine and azathioprine, are used as steroid-sparin g agents. Metronidazole's effects in inflammatory bowel disease are de rived from its antimicrobial as well as immunologic properties.