Pentasa is a topical medication that effectively treats shallow-inflammation involving the top-most layers of intestinal tissue. UC is shallow-inflammation involving the top most layers of intestinal tissue, a good match for it, and used widely for UC patients. Crohn's is deep-inflammation that often goes much, much further into the intestinal tissue and therefore Pentasa might only partially treat it. I would hope that when prescribing pentasa to Crohn's patients that doctors are choosing those patients with the mildest cases who present shallower-inflammation rather than those with more severe inflammation that goes deeper. Biopsy results would identify the depth of inflammation, so it would be a known factor to your gasteroenteroligist at the time he/she prescribes you medication to treat your Crohn's. Maybe selective usage with Crohn's has an affect for mild cases? It at least seems plausible. I'll defer to those who know more and have Crohn's themselves on that point (I have UC).
Moderator Ulcerative Colitis
John, 39, UC Proctosigmoiditis
Rx: Remicade @5mgs/kg/6wks; daily 75mgs 6MP, 4.8g generic-Lialda, and rowasa
UC experience: wakeup with noisy bowels so no lingering in bed, soon after poop with discomfort/pain/mild-nausea, eat something, poop, get dressed, poop, leave in car and worry whole drive about more...