Evaluation of sucralfate enema in experimental diversion colitis

AbstractDiversion colitis (DC) is an inflammatory disease that develops in segments with fecal di- version. Sucralfate (SCF) complex, which consists of sucrose octasulfate and polyaluminum hydroxide, has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of different forms of colitis. However, until now, the effects of SCF have not been evaluated in DC.Objectiveto evaluate whether the use of enemas containing SFC improves histological find- ings in experimental DC.MethodsThirty-six rats underwent right colon bypass procedure through the creation of a proximal colostomy and a distal mucous fistula. The animals were divided into two groups according to the euthanization procedure to be performed two to four weeks after sur- gery. Each experimental group was divided into three subgroups of six animals, which were submitted to daily application of enemas containing saline solution 0.9% or SCF at con- centrations of 1.0g/kg/day or 2.0g/kg/day, respectively. The diagnosis of DC in segments with fecal diversion was established by histopathological study considering the followingvariablesepithelial loss, formation of crypt abscesses, the population of goblet cells, in- flammatory infiltrate and presence of fibrosis. For statistical analysis, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, with a significance level of 5% (p <0.05).ResultsIt was observed that the daily application of SCF enemas decreased epithelial loss, formation of colon crypt abscesses, inflammatory infiltrate and tissue fibrosis (p