Therapy of inflammatory bowel disease.
In the last decade, substantial gains have been made in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Refinements in drug formulation have provided the ability to target distinct sites of delivery, enhancing the safety and efficacy of older agents. Immunosuppressive agents beyond corticosteroids have assumed a routine part in the care of patients with IBD. Moreover, as the century closes, we stand at the threshold of unprecedented advances in knowledge of the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Simultaneous progress in biotechnology has fostered the development of new agents that strategically target pivotal processes in disease pathogenesis. This review covers agents currently used in the treatment of IBD and seeks to provide an overview of emerging therapies.
Sands
B E
BE
Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA. bsands@partners.org
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001685:Biological Factors; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors