Role of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review.

Authors' objectives To perform a systematic review of the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) compounds (oral and topical) in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), in the acute phase for inducing remission and for the prevention of relapses or recurrences. Also, to evaluate the influence of several factors (such as dosage schedule, disease localisation and type of formulation) on the efficacy of 5-ASA therapy in IBD.