Dexamethasone Versus Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Dexamethasone Versus Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The aim of this therapeutic trial is to compare the response of subjects with active IBD to daily intravenous dexamethasone versus the response to daily intravenous methylprednisolone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Parental informed consent
• Subjects 6 to 19 years of age with confirmed diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis), who on admission to the hospital have a PCDAI>15 or a Clinical-Activity Index for the Evaluation of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis of >10.
• Infectious causes (viruses, bacteria, parasites) have been ruled out.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects in which the administration of corticosteroids would be contraindicated such as systemic or enteric infections diagnosed by stool analysis including culture, Clostridium Difficile toxin assay, rotavirus or adenovirus 40/41 antigens.
• Subjects with enterostomy or colostomy
• Subjects with one or more of the following conditions: unstable vital signs, acute abdomen, toxic megacolon, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation