Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis with Antimetabolites

Abstract

Observations on a small group of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and treated with antimetabolites are reported. While the effect of chemotherapy is at times dramatic, the successful use of the drugs requires adequate facilities and careful control. While most patients have shown a steady return to normal in all parameters, the failure to achieve cure has been disappointing. The role of the platelet is discussed, and it is suggested that these observations support a viral infection rather than an autoimmune basis for the disease. © 1966, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.