| Mechanism of action |
The mode of action of Sulfasalazine or its metabolites,
5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfapyridine (SP), is still under
investigation, but may be related to the anti-inflammatory and/or
immunomodulatory properties that have been observed in animal and in vitro
models, to its affinity for connective tissue, and/or to the relatively
high concentration it reaches in serous fluids, the liver and
intestinal walls, as demonstrated in autoradiographic studies in
animals. In ulcerative colitis, clinical studies utilizing rectal
administration of Sulfasalazine, SP and 5-ASA have indicated that the
major therapeutic action may reside in the 5-ASA moiety. The relative
contribution of the parent drug and the major metabolites in rheumatoid
arthritis is unknown. |
