Absorption of Cortisol from the Colon in Ulcerative Colitis. ∗ †

Abstract

Summary

Rectal Cortisol has been used in treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis with good results. Following administration of 200 mg of the steroid dissolved in 100 cc of normal saline, there was no significant increase in blood levels of cortisol. This was confirmed by absence in the plasma cortisol fraction of any appreciable radioactivity following instillation of cortisol-4-C¹⁴. By implication, our data suggest that the good clinical results obtained were probably the result of a local effect of the cortisol on the rectal mucosa.