[Advances in the efficacy, optimization and safety of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease].

In Digestive Disease Week 2012, numerous studies were presented on the treatment, monitoring and safety of drugs in inflammatory bowel diseases. New indications for previously approved treatments were evaluated, mainly in perianal disease and the prevention of postsurgical recurrence. New data were provided on biological markers that could help in the follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Several studies were presented on the safety of thiopurine drugs and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents during pregnancy. However, much of the meeting was centered on studies determining levels of anti-TNF agents and antibodies against them, evaluating new techniques with greater accuracy in determining levels of these agents and antibodies against them, their correlation with clinical response and their utility in optimizing the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.