Ischemic colitis therapy

Because alosetron has been associated with ischemic colitis, it may be prescribed only under strict guidelines, including signing of a consent form by both patient and physician. Patients selected for therapy should exhibit chronic IBS symptoms and have failed to respond to conventional therapy. 

In contrast to the excellent safety profile of other 5-HT3-receptor antagonists, alosetron is associated with rare but serious gastrointestinal toxicity. Constipation occurs in up to 30% of patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, reguiring discontinuation of the drug in 10%. Serious complications of constipation requiring hospitalization or surgery have occurred in 1 of every 1000 patients. Episodes of ischemic colitis—some fatal—have been reported in up to 3 per 1000 patients. Given the seriousness of these adverse events, alosetron is restricted to women with severe diarrhea-predominant IBS who have not responded to conventional therapies and who have been educated about the relative risks and benefits. 

Glucocorticoids should be used with caution in progressive systemic sclerosis, and concomitant administration of anticoagulants to prevent ischemic colitis is recommended when administering glucocorticoids in high doses, especially by pulse therapy (SEDA-21, 415 150). 

Yamanishi Y, Yamana S, Ishioka S, Yamakido M. Development of ischemic colitis and scleroderma renal crisis following methylprednisolone pulse therapy for progressive systemic sclerosis. Intern Med 1996 35(7) 583-6. 

Episodes of ischemic colitis—some fatal—have been reported in up to 3 of every 1000 patients. Given the seriousness of these adverse events, alosetron is restricted to women with severe diarrhea-predominant IBS who have not responded to conventional therapies and who have been educated about the relative risks and benefits. 

Baik SJ, Kim TH, Yoo K, Moon IH, Cho M-S. Ischemic colitis during interferon-ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C a case report. World J Gastroenterol 2012 18(31) 4233-6. 

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