Efficacy and safety of oral beclomethasone dipropionate for ileal or ileal-right colon Crohn's disease of mild-to-moderate activity or in remission: Retrospective study

Although conventional glucocorticosteroids are the main treatments for active Crohn's disease, several problems are associated with steroid dependence and steroid-related adverse events. To assess the efficacy and safety of oral beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) coated tablets in adults with mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease. Thirty-four patients (age 18-70 years) with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease confirmed by conventional criteria (barium enema, clinical criteria, colonoscopy, histology) were retrospectively evaluated in the study. All subjects received a treatment schedule with BDP 5-10 mg/day for 24 weeks. BDP significantly (p = 0.005) reduced mean Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score from 169.6 at baseline to 123.2 after 24 weeks. Clinical success was evident at 24 weeks in 66.7% of patients with initial active disease, and remission was maintained at week 24 in 93.8% of patients with remission at baseline. Overall, female non-smokers had the best response to treatment. BDP was well tolerated and the only adverse events observed were nausea (n = 1), facial erythema (n = 1) and one patient with raised fasting blood glucose level. These results clearly suggest that oral BDP coated tablets are effective and safe for treatment of mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease of ileal or ileal-right colonic localisation. © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.