Re: Sulfasalazine - 7-day wonder?

[Guest guest]

I think we should be very cautious with this sulfasalazine story coming out of The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, England. It's too good to be true. Some people on the PBC on-line forum are jumping with joy and thinking that now they'll never need a tx. Sulfasalazine (combination of sulfonamide + a salicylate), was an early med for IBD which is quite effective but some people can't tolerate the sulfa part of it. It can also be hepatotoxic for a few patients. Generally superceded by mesalazine (Asacol, Pentasa) which has fewer side-effects. I'm sure quite a few of us are on this. The story has been reported in a bizarre way all around the world, as a cure for alcoholic liver disease and alcoholics will be able to continue to drink! (Is this research effort funded by the liquor industry!?) You should know that a lot of so-called health- correspondents know nothing about science and - as we say in Britain - don't know their arse from their elbows. They're looking for dramatic headlines which are forgotten a week later. Yet they do quote some of the research team and if these

quotes are correct I think the team were either drunk at the time or trying to drum up badly needed research funds. I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it. Because notice that these are experiments on animals and trials on humans are only to begin next year. So how can they be sure that the damage done by cirrhosis can be reversed? I'm sorry to see the name of Prof. included in this - a highly respected PBC researcher.

Ivor

[Guest guest]

>>> I think we should be very cautious with this

sulfasalazine story

I agree, sulfasalazine can be both good and/or bad (I guess you

can say that about any drug) but ya know, it’s nice to see someone,

somewhere, at least open to thinking about other drugs. If it causes a little

excitement and gets folks moving towards thinking outside the box, I’m

all for it.

Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes!

Son Ken (32) UC 91 - PSC 99 Listed 7/21 @ Baylor Dallas

[Guest guest]

>>> I think we should be very cautious with this

sulfasalazine story

I agree, sulfasalazine can be both good and/or bad (I guess you

can say that about any drug) but ya know, it’s nice to see someone,

somewhere, at least open to thinking about other drugs. If it causes a little

excitement and gets folks moving towards thinking outside the box, I’m

all for it.

Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes!

Son Ken (32) UC 91 - PSC 99 Listed 7/21 @ Baylor Dallas

[Guest guest]

Oh, my

goodness Ivor! You have me in stitches! I love your candor.

The

story has been reported in a bizarre way all around the world, as a cure for

alcoholic liver disease and alcoholics will be able to continue to drink!

(Is this research effort funded by the liquor industry!?) You should know

that a lot of so-called health- correspondents know nothing about science and -

as we say in Britain - don't know their arse from their elbows. They're looking for

dramatic headlines which are forgotten a week later. Yet they do quote some of

the research team and if these

quotes

are correct I think the team were either drunk at the time or trying to drum up

badly needed research funds. I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.

Ivor