UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

The limited efficacy of standard medical therapies for inflammatory bo wel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) has resulted in a continuing search for alternative treatments. Short-chain fatty acid s, fish oil, sulfhydryl agents, nicotine, clonidine, and heparin, and local administration of anesthetics, sucralfate, and other drugs, have been used with varying success, mostly in uncontrolled trials. Nicoti ne and short-chain fatty acids are the most promising unconventional a gents for the treatment of ulcerative colitis when given in combinatio n with standard mesalamine therapy; however, when administered alone, neither nicotine nor short-chain fatty acids are efficacious therapeut ic alternatives. Enteric-coated fish oil is effective in maintaining r emission of Crohn's disease but is not a useful treatment in the activ e phases of the disease.