No abstract

NCT00261118.

SUMMARYBackground: Heparin has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity which may be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Aim: To test whether low molecular weight heparin, given subcutaneously, would provide a significant therapeutic response compared with placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Study design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial comparing tinzaparin 175 anti-Xa IU/kg/day (innohep, LEO Pharma) subcutaneously for 14 days followed by tinzaparin 4500 anti-Xa IU/day subcutaneously for 28 days with placebo, administered subcutaneously once daily for up to 42 days. The primary outcome measure was the mean change in colitis activity from baseline to the end of study treatment assessed by the sum of scores of stool frequency, rectal bleeding, sigmoidoscopic appearance

This open label study has shown an impressive response to clarithromycin in a group of patients with active Crohn's disease, many of whom had been resistant to other therapy. A formal randomized controlled trial of clarithromycin in active Crohn's disease is needed.

SUMMARY BackgroundCrohn's disease is characterized by defective innate immune responses to intestinal bacteria. Clarithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that has good penetration into macrophages.