GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT OF A MULTIPARTICULATE TABLET FORMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

The gastrointestinal transit of a multiparticulate formulation has been measured in a group of patients with active colitis, using the technique of gamma scintigraphy. Small tablets of 5 mm diameter were dosed in the morning and in the evening. The transit behaviour for morning dosing was similar to that observed previously for patients with the non-active form of the disease and for healthy volunteers. For evening dosing, there was an indication that movement through the small intestine was slower than for morning dosing. Acute ulcerative colitis did not lead to an accelerated transit in the colonic regions, although retrograde movement was observed quite frequently.