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  • Title: [Anti-TNF therapy in treatment of luminal Crohn's disease].
    Author: Marko B, Prka L.
    Journal: Acta Med Croatica; 2013 Apr; 67(2):179-89. PubMed ID: 24471301.
    Abstract:
    Biologic drugs directed against main proinflammatory mediator in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)--tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)--represent very effective and clinically proven therapy of IBD. Meta-analysis and daily clinical practice confirm efficacy of infliximab and adalimumab in induction and maintenance of remission without steroids in patients with luminal Crohn's disease. Main therapeutic goals are reduction of complications, reduction of number of hospitalizations and surgical interventions and improvement of quality of life, work capacity and reproductive ability of patients. There are few very important issues that one must consider before starting an anti-TNF therapy in patients with luminal Crohn's disease. First, it is necessary to identify patients who failed to respond to conventional drugs and who would benefit the most from early application of biologics. It is very important to exclude presence of strictures or other complications like intraabdominal fistulas and collections before starting anti-TNF therapy. Once we decide to start biologic therapy, it is important to apply adequate dose and regime of anti-TNF therapy and to change and adjust treatment to achieve and maintain remission in patients who lose response. In general, treatment recommendations depend on disease activity and severity, extension and localization of lesions, comorbidities and possible complications of disease and/or treatment. There are few clinical instruments and laboratory surrogates that help us to assess disease activity. Most used are Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Harvey- Bradshaw index (HBI), concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal lactoferrin and calprotectin. In assessment of mucosal injury we rely on two complementary endoscopic indices of activity--Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (CD-SES). However, in time of diagnosis of Crohn's disease available clinical, serological or laboratory markers do not have acceptably predictive value for future disease behavior and there are still no genetic indicator that could predict disease course. There are some clinical and epidemiologic factors that could be related to unfavorable disease course. Age less than 40 years, extended disease, need for steroid therapy early after diagnosis and perianal disease are considered to predict worse prognosis in patients with luminal Crohn's disease. According to available data, it seems that early intensive therapy with anti-TNF drugs as monotherapy or in combination with immunosuppressive drugs in this group of patients increases possibility of induction of remission, mucosal healing and maintenance of steroid-free remission. Candidates for anti-TNF therapy are also patients who did not respond to conventional treatment, patients with moderate or severe disease who are intolerant to steroids, patients in whom we expect severe adverse effects from steroid treatment, patients who do not accept steroid treatment and patients with frequent relapses and need for steroids.
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