Sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory medicine used for inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Gut bacteria split it into sulfapyridine and mesalazine, which contribute to its effects.

Mesalazine: Mesalazine, also called 5-aminosalicylic acid, is an anti-inflammatory drug used mainly for inflammatory bowel disease. Bacterial cleavage releases this component in the colon, where it acts locally.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the colon and rectum. Sulfasalazine can induce or maintain remission, especially in mild to moderate disease.
Mesalamine: Mesalamine is a 5-aminosalicylic acid medicine used to treat inflammatory bowel disease. Unlike sulfasalazine, it delivers 5-aminosalicylic acid without the sulfapyridine component.
Sulfonamide allergy: Sulfonamide allergy is an immune-mediated reaction to medicines containing sulfonamide chemical groups. Sulfasalazine’s sulfapyridine component makes allergy history relevant before treatment.
Sulfapyridine: Sulfapyridine is a sulfonamide antibiotic and one of the products formed when gut bacteria split sulfasalazine. This released component is absorbed and contributes to both therapeutic effects and adverse reactions.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that inflames joints and can damage them over time. Sulfasalazine is used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for this condition.
Olsalazine: Olsalazine is a colon-targeted medicine made of two linked 5-aminosalicylic acid molecules. It relies on bacterial cleavage like sulfasalazine but does not release sulfapyridine.
Agranulocytosis: Agranulocytosis is a severe deficiency of neutrophils, leaving the body vulnerable to serious infection. Rare blood-cell toxicity is one reason blood counts are monitored during sulfasalazine therapy.
Azo bond: An azo bond is a linkage containing two nitrogen atoms joined by a double bond. The bond joins sulfasalazine’s components and is cleaved by colonic bacteria.
Crohn's disease: Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike ulcerative colitis, sulfasalazine has limited usefulness, mainly in some cases involving the colon.

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