The bioavailibity of mesalamine from enteric-coated mesalamine and sulphasalazine was determined following a single dose and at steady state in healthy subjects in crossover studies. Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of mesalamine and its major metabolite, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid, were measured. After a single dose of enteric-coated mesalamine, about 10 h elapsed before the onset of measurable plasma drug concentrations, probably representing gastro-intestinal transit prior to drug release near the ileocaecal junction. The elimination kinetics were similar for a single oral dose and steady state using enteric-coated mesalamine, but after both single and multiple administration of enteric-coated mesalamine only about 20% of the mesalamine given was absorbed, with about 80% estimated to remain for colon therapeutic activity. It is concluded that, despite different mechanisms of mesalamine release, enteric-coated mesalamine and sulphasalazine produced similar mesalamine absorption.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acquired Brown's syndrome from blunt orbital trauma.

Blunt trauma to the supero-medial orbit resulted in an isolated Brown's syndrome in two patients. One recovered spontaneously in three weeks; the other had a good outcome after surgery two years post trauma. Recognition of the characteristic motility abnormality and forced duction testing will differentiate this condition from other, more common, motility disorders caused by orbital trauma. Spontaneous resolution may occur but in persistent deviations a superior oblique muscle weakening procedure should be considered.

Adult↗