Absorption of Cortisol from the Colon in Ulcerative Colitis.

Abstract

Rectal cortisol was used in treating chronic ulcerative colitis. Following the administration of 200 mg of steroid in physiological saline, no significant increase in the blood levels of cortisol were observed over a 24-hour interval despite good clinical results. The lack of any appreciable plasma radioactive cortisol levels after the rectal administration of cortisol-4-C14 confirmed this observation when specimens were obtained at 0, 0.5, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours. There was, however, a significant rise of total radioactive conjugated steroids (tetrahydrocortisone and tetrahydrocortisol glucuronides) at one hour which dropped to an insignificant level at 4 hours.