An open-labeled, randomized study comparing systemic interferon-alpha-2A and prednisolone enemas in the treatment of left-sided ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the treatment efficacies of subcutaneous interferon-alpha -2A (IFN-alpha -2A) injections versus predni solone enemas in active left-sided ulcerative colitis in an open-labeled, r andomized study. METHODS: Sixteen ulcerative colitis patients received IFN-alpha -2A subcuta neously (dosage: first wk, 9 MIU three times weekly [t.i.w.]; second wk, 6 MIU t.i.w.; wk 3-12, 3 MIU t.i.w.), and 16 received prednisolone enemas for 30 days (100 ml once daily, 0.25 mg of prednisolone/ml). The Powell-Tuck I ndex, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) score, and rectal his tological activities were assessed before and after treatment. Thirteen pat ients in the IFN-alpha -2A group and all 16 in the prednisolone enema group completed the treatment. RESULTS: IFN-alpha -2A treatment showed significant improvements in the Pow ell-Tuck Index (p = 0.0002), IBDQ score (p = 0.002), and rectal histologica l activity scores (p = 0.02). In the enema group, significant improvements were found in the Powell-Tuck Index (p = 0.0009), whereas no significant im provements were detected in the IBDQ scores (p = 0.055) or rectal histologi cal scores (p = 0.052). There were no differences between scores of the two groups either before or after treatment. Only moderate side effects from t he IFN-alpha -2A treatment were seen during the first 2-4 wk of treatment. CONCLUSION: IFN-alpha -2A treatment resulted in significant depression of t he disease activity as reflected by the Powell-Tuck Index, IBDQ score, and histological disease activity scoring. The preliminary trial thus suggests that IFN-alpha -2A may be effective in the treatment of active left-sided u lcerative colitis. Larger, randomized trials are, however, warranted to con firm this finding, owing to possible type II errors in group comparisons. ( C) 2001 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology.