New drug treats digestive disease.

Crohn's disease--a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract--can be a debilitating and difficult disease to live with. Fortunately, with the FDA's approval of Entocort EC (budesonide) made by AstraZeneca, patients have more treatment options.

Data from clinical trials show that a daily dose of Entocort EC helps prevent characteristic symptoms of the disease, including flareups of abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever. The new steroid medicine dissolves in areas of the colon where Crohn's disease is usually found.

Traditional steroid therapy--linked to undesirable side effects such as facial swelling, acne, and bruising--can sometimes be "a deal with the devil," acknowleges Dr. Ellen Scherl, director of the IBD center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

"Entocort EC, however, is a locally active glucocorticosteriod," Dr. Scherl explains. "It works in the ileum and ascending colon. Because 80 percent of the drug does not enter the bloodstream, patients experience fewer side effects than with other corticosteroids used to treat Crohn's disease."

Studies show that 42 to 69 percent of 1,000 patients with mild to moderate, active Crohn's disease experienced clinical improvement after eight weeks of treatment. Most common side effects reported include headache, respiratory infections, and nausea.

About 400,000 Americans have Crohn's disease. The condition affects men and women equally and tends to run in families. Most cases are first diagnosed in young adults, with peak age between 15 and 25 years. There is currently no cure.

People with Crohn's disease should be encouraged by recent advances in treatment. "Stay educated about the disease, manage stress, practice good nutrition, and be prepared to treat flareups early," Dr. Scherl advises her patients. "With treatment, most Crohn's disease sufferers can lead useful and productive lives."