EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL ELECTROLYTE LAVAGE SOLUTION WITH AND WITHOUT SIMETHICONE IN THE PREPARATION OF PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE FOR COLONOSCOPY

This placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy and tolerability o f polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS), with and without simethicone, in the preparation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease for colonoscopy. PEG-ELS 4 L plus placebo, or PEG-ELS 4 L plus simethicone 120 mg, was administered according to a randomized double-blind protocol to 115 patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn 's disease. The parameters assessed were: presence of bubbles, degree of haziness, degree of bowel cleansing and patient acceptance. In the 105 patients completing the study, the efficacy of colonic lavage was found to be essentially comparable for the two preparations, although the addition of simethicone showed a significant reduction in the form ation of bubbles. Significantly better results were reported by patien ts treated with the drug combination regarding reduction of general ma laise (P = 0.01) and sleep disturbance (P = 0.01). The PEG-ELS solutio n represents an effective bowel cleansing method which can also be use d for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. The addition of simethicone to the traditional formulation is an acceptable develo pment in terms of clinical efficacy and tolerability.