Sulphasalazine, sulphapyridine or 5-aminosalicylic acid--which is the active moiety in rheumatoid arthritis? 1995

H A Bird
Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds.

Sulphasalazine is cleaved into 5-aminosalicylic acid and sulphapyridine by colonic bacteria. The bulk of evidence favours sulphapyridine rather than 5-aminosalicylic acid as the active moiety (as well as the main producer of side-effects) though a therapeutic action from the 30% of sulphasalazine that is absorbed unaltered also cannot be excluded.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000636 Aminosalicylic Acids A group of 2-hydroxybenzoic acids that can be substituted by amino groups at any of the 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-positions. Acids, Aminosalicylic
D000893 Anti-Inflammatory Agents Substances that reduce or suppress INFLAMMATION. Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Antiinflammatory Agent,Agents, Anti-Inflammatory,Agents, Antiinflammatory,Anti-Inflammatories,Antiinflammatories,Antiinflammatory Agents,Agent, Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Antiinflammatory,Agents, Anti Inflammatory,Anti Inflammatories,Anti Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents
D000894 Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects. Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory,Aspirin-Like Agent,Aspirin-Like Agents,NSAID,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,NSAIDs,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Agent, Aspirin-Like,Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics,Aspirin Like Agent,Aspirin Like Agents,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
D012460 Sulfasalazine A drug that is used in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Its activity is generally considered to lie in its metabolic breakdown product, 5-aminosalicylic acid (see MESALAMINE) released in the colon. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p907) Salicylazosulfapyridine,Asulfidine,Azulfadine,Azulfidine,Azulfidine EN,Colo-Pleon,Pleon,Pyralin EN,Salazopyrin,Salazosulfapyridine,Sulfasalazin medac,Sulfasalazin-Heyl,Sulfasalazine FNA,Sulphasalazine,Ucine,Ulcol,ratio-Sulfasalazine,Colo Pleon,Sulfasalazin Heyl,ratio Sulfasalazine
D013427 Sulfapyridine Antibacterial, potentially toxic, used to treat certain skin diseases. Sulphapyridin,Sulphapyridine
D018501 Antirheumatic Agents Drugs that are used to treat RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Anti-Rheumatic Agent,Anti-Rheumatic Drug,Antirheumatic Agent,Antirheumatic Disease-Modifying Second-Line Drug,Antirheumatic Drug,DMARD,Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug,Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs,Anti-Rheumatic Agents,Anti-Rheumatic Agents, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Rheumatic Drugs,Antirheumatic Disease-Modifying Second-Line Drugs,Antirheumatic Drugs,Antirheumatic Drugs, Disease-Modifying,Disease-Modifying, Antirheumatic Second-Line Drugs,Agent, Anti-Rheumatic,Agent, Antirheumatic,Anti Rheumatic Agent,Anti Rheumatic Agents,Anti Rheumatic Agents, Non Steroidal,Anti Rheumatic Drug,Anti Rheumatic Drugs,Antirheumatic Disease Modifying Second Line Drug,Antirheumatic Disease Modifying Second Line Drugs,Antirheumatic Drug, Disease-Modifying,Antirheumatic Drugs, Disease Modifying,Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug,Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs,Disease Modifying, Antirheumatic Second Line Drugs,Drug, Anti-Rheumatic,Drug, Antirheumatic,Drug, Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic,Non-Steroidal Anti-Rheumatic Agents
D019804 Mesalamine An anti-inflammatory agent, structurally related to the SALICYLATES, which is active in INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE. It is considered to be the active moiety of SULPHASALAZINE. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed) 5-Aminosalicylate,Mesalazine,5-Aminosalicylic Acid,Asacol,Asacolon,Ascolitin,Canasa,Claversal,Fivasa,Lixacol,Mesalamine Hydrochloride,Mesalamine Monosodium Salt,Mesasal,Novo-5 ASA,Pentasa,Rowasa,Salofalk,m-Aminosalicylic Acid,meta-Aminosalicylic Acid,5 Aminosalicylate,5 Aminosalicylic Acid,Hydrochloride, Mesalamine,Monosodium Salt, Mesalamine,Novo 5 ASA,m Aminosalicylic Acid,meta Aminosalicylic Acid

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