[Current concepts about the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, biological therapy].

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine,which frequently require surgery for complications or failure of medical therapy.

OBJECTIVE

We seek evidence and provide direction for clinicians about the optimal use of biologic therapy in order to enable steroid free remission in inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

Scientific literature was reviewed using MEDLINE with a specific focus on biologic medical therapies for inducing and maintaining remission of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.

RESULTS

Several therapies have demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of active, moderate-to-severe Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. These include agents which induce remission [infliximab, certolizumaband adalimumab (CD only)] or maintain remission and spare corticosteroids [infliximab,certolizumab and adalimumab (CD only)]. In the patient with UC there is evidence about the efficacy of Infliximab for induce remission in moderate to-severe cases. We present additional information about new drugs in development for the treatment of both diseases.

CONCLUSION

There are evidence about the efficacy and safety of biologic therapies that maximize remission and minimize corticosteroid dependence in patients with moderate-to-severe CD and UC.