title: Medical therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: CD and UC represent a spectrum of chronic IBD that present in protean ways and are accompanied by a variety of systemic sequelae. Sulfasalazine and the newer 5-aminosalicylates are important in the management of mild-to-moderate disease, whereas corticosteroids remain the primary therapy for most patients with moderate-to-severe disease (Tables 2-5). The toxicities associated with long-term steroid therapy, combined with their ineffectiveness as maintenance medications, have led to increased use of immunomodulators, such as azathioprine and 6-MP, for the treatment of steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant IBD. Infliximab is a novel therapeutic adjunct for chronically active and fistulizing CD that will herald a new era of biologic therapy for IBD. Meanwhile, CSA remains an alternative to urgent colectomy in severe UC unresponsive to corticosteroids and also for CD patients with severe disease or refractory fistulas. Finally, continued insights into the etiopathogenic pathways in IBD will provide evolving and innovative approaches until the eventual causes and cures are elucidated. In the meantime, clinicians should remain optimistic regarding current ability to reduce the morbidity and maintain the quality of life for patients suffering with these frustrating diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hanauer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012459:Salicylates; D013256:Steroids; D016572:Cyclosporine; D008727:Methotrexate