title: Loss of response to biologics versus increased risk of lymphoma in children with inflammatory bowel disease: the clinician's conundrum.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease in children can be marked by aggressive disease both at presentation and over time. Risk stratification of individual patients may help identify when early biologic therapy is justified. Currently, combination biologic and immunomodulator therapy for moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease is the most effective treatment regimen. The clinician's conundrum arises from the recent understanding that rare but serious adverse events do occur with use of these strong immune suppressive drugs and may be more prevalent with combination therapy. An understanding of the natural history of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and the benefits and risks of the current medical armamentarium is essential to provide optimal care for each child with inflammatory bowel disease.
authors: Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. elana.bern@childrens.harvard.edu
authors: Elana M
authors: EM
authors: Bern
authors: Athos
authors: A
authors: Bousvaros
mesh_terms: D001691:Biological Therapy; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents