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Sulfasalazine

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{{Drugbox | Verifiedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 460764435 | IUPAC_name = 2-hydroxy-5-[(E)-2-{4-[(pyridin-2-yl)sulfamoyl]phenyl}diazen-1-yl]benzoic acid | image = Sulfasalazine.svg

| tradename = Azulfidine | Drugs.com = Monograph | MedlinePlus = a682204 | pregnancy_category = b [1] | legal_status = | routes_of_administration = oral

| bioavailability = <15%

  1. ^ http://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/sulfasalazine.html

| metabolism = | elimination_half-life = 5-10 hours | excretion =

| CASNo_Ref =  checkY | CAS_number_Ref =  checkY | CAS_number = 599-79-1 | ATC_prefix = A07 | ATC_suffix = EC01 | PubChem = 5384001 | DrugBank_Ref =  checkY 

| DrugBank = DB00795

| ChemSpiderID_Ref =  checkY | ChemSpiderID = 10481900 | UNII_Ref =  checkY | UNII = 3XC8GUZ6CB | KEGG_Ref =  checkY | KEGG = D00448 | ChEMBL_Ref =  ☒N | ChEMBL = 421

| C=18 | H=14 | N=4 | O=5 | S=1 | molecular_weight = 398.394 g/mol | smiles = O=S(=O)(Nc1ccccn1)c3ccc(/N=N/c2cc(C(O)=O)c(O)cc2)cc3 | InChI = 1/C18H14N4O5S/c23-16-9-6-13(11-15(16)18(24)25)21-20-12-4-7-14(8-5-12)28(26,27)22-17-3-1-2-10-19-17/h1-11,23H,(H,19,22)(H,24,25) | InChIKey = NCEXYHBECQHGNR-UHFFFAOYAO | StdInChI_Ref =  checkY | StdInChI = 1S/C18H14N4O5S/c23-16-9-6-13(11-15(16)18(24)25)21-20-12-4-7-14(8-5-12)28(26,27)22-17-3-1-2-10-19-17/h1-11,23H,(H,19,22)(H,24,25) | StdInChIKey_Ref =  checkY | StdInChIKey = NCEXYHBECQHGNR-UHFFFAOYSA-N }}

Sulfasalazine (brand name Azulfidine in the U.S., Salazopyrin and Sulazine in Europe and Hong Kong) was developed in the 1950s[1] specifically to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It was believed at the time that bacterial infections were the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. Sulfasalazine is a sulfa drug, a derivative of mesalazine, and is formed by combining sulfapyridine and salicylate with an azo bond. It may be abbreviated SSZ.

Indications

See also Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for its role in rheumatoid arthritis

Sulfasalazine is used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It is also indicated for use in rheumatoid arthritis and used in other types of inflammatory arthritis (e.g. psoriatic arthritis) where it has a beneficial effect. It is often well tolerated compared to other DMARDs.

In clinical trials for the treatment of chronic alcoholics, sulfasalazine has been found to reverse the scarring associated with cirrhosis of the liver.[citation needed] Cells called myofibroblasts, which contribute to scar tissue in a diseased liver, also appear to secrete proteins that prevent the breakdown of the scar tissue. Sulfasalazine appears to retard this secretion.

A study at University of Newcastle found that the drug may also act to aid the healing of cirrhosis of the liver.[2][3]

It is usually not given to children under 2 years of age.

The use of sulfasalazine in inflammatory bowel disease has declined due mainly to the fact that it yields the metabolite sulfapyridine which gives rise to side-effects such as agranulocytosis and hypospermia. However, the other metabolite of sulfasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is attributed to the drug's therapeutic effect. Therefore, 5-ASA and other derivatives of 5-ASA, are now usually preferred and given alone (as mesalazine), despite their increased cost, due to their more favourable side-effect profile.

Sulfasalazine has also been used successfully to treat cases of idiopathic urticaria that do not respond to antihistamines.[4]

Mode of action

Sulfasalazine, and its metabolite 5-ASA, are poorly absorbed from the gut. Its main mode of action is therefore believed to be inside the intestine.

Bowel disease

In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, it is thought to be an antinflammatory drug that is essentially providing topical relief inside the intestine. It does this via a number of mechanisms such as reducing the synthesis of inflammatory mediators known as eicosanoids and inflammatory cytokines. However, unlike glucocorticoids (another class of drug used in the treatment in inflammatory bowel disease), sulfasalazine is a mild immunosuppressant.

Arthritis

When treatment for arthritis is successful, pain, joint swelling and stiffness will be reduced and this may slow down or stop the development of joint damage. The precise reasons why sulfasalazine are effective in various forms of arthritis is not clearly understood.

Because sulfasalazine and its metabolite 5-ASA are poorly absorbed into the bloodstream, it is surprising that the drug is effective against symptoms outside of the intestine. One possible explanation is that, given that ulcerative colitis produces arthritic symptoms, the arthritic symptoms are actually a product of unrecognized ulcerative colitis,[citation needed] which is effectively treated with sulfasalazine.

The other metabolite, sulfapyridine, is absorbed into the blood, and is believed to be the source of the side-effects discussed below. It is possible that the sulfapyridine is responsible for some of the anti-arthritic effects of sulfasalazine.

Side effects

Sulfsalazine metabolizes to sulfapyridine. Serum levels should be monitored every three months, and more frequently at the outset. Serum levels above 50 μg/l are associated with side effects. In rare cases, Sulfasalazine can cause severe depression in young males. It can also cause temporary infertility.[5] Immune thrombocytopenia has been reported.[6]

Sulfasalazine inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, and can cause folate deficiency and megaloblastic anemia.[7][8][9]

Sulfasalazine can cause hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Patient information: Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (Beyond the Basics)". UpToDate. May 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  2. ^ "Drug 'may reverse liver disease'". BBC News. 2006-09-26. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  3. ^ Fiona Oakley, Muriel Meso, John P. Iredale, Karen Green, Carylyn J. Marek, Xiaoying Zhou, Michael J. May, Harry Millward-Sadler, Matthew C. Wright, Derek A. Mann (Jan 2005). "Inhibition of inhibitor of κB kinases stimulates hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and accelerated recovery from rat liver fibrosis". Gastroenterology. 128 (1): 108–120. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2004.10.003.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ McGirt LY, Vasagar K, Gober LM, Saini SS, Beck LA (Oct 2006). "Successful treatment of recalcitrant chronic idiopathic urticaria with sulfasalazine". Arch Dermatol. 142 (10): 1337–1342. doi:10.1001/archderm.142.10.1337. PMID 17043190.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ http://www.medic8.com/medicines/Azulfidine.html
  6. ^ Cantarini L, Tinazzi I, Biasi D, Fioravanti A, Galeazzi M (June 2007). "Sulfasalazine-induced immune thrombocytopenia". Postgraduate Medical Journal. 83 (980): e1. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2006.055194. PMC 2600053. PMID 17551063.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Inflammatory Bowel Disease Workup; Author: William A Rowe, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/179037-workup#showall
  8. ^ Women With Autoimmune Diseases: Medications During Pregnancy and Lactation: Sulfasalazine; http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/720225_7
  9. ^ Folic Acid Antagonists during Pregnancy and the Risk of Birth Defects; http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200011303432204
  10. ^ "SulfaSALAzine: Drug Information Provided by Lexi-Comp". Merck & Co., Inc. Jan 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-28.

External links

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