Early aggressive therapy for severe extensive ulcerative colitis.
The current ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment algorithm involves a step-up therapeutic strategy, mainly aiming at inducing and maintaining its clinical remission. Although this therapeutic strategy may seem to be cost-efficient and reduce the risk of side effects, recent trials and case reports have shown that top-down therapy using infliximab induces a rapid clinical response, enhances patient quality of life, promotes mucosal healing, reduces surgeries and indirect cost of treatment for patients with severe UC. Moreover, since long-term treatment with infliximab is safe and well tolerated, early aggressive top-down therapeutic strategy may be a more effective approach, at least in a subgroup of severe extensive UC patients.
Cui
De-Jun
DJ
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab