title: The role and advances of immunomodulator therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Immune modulating drugs such as thiopurines (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) and methotrexate has been a mainstay for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for decades. However, despite widely used in IBD, questions still remain concerning the most rational treatment regimens of these agents. Results from a range of recent studies necessitate increased awareness on how to best use these potent drugs in the clinic. As controversy still remains regarding the most appropriate use of immunomodulators, this review is based on scrutinizing the current literature, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials and Cochrane reviews, focusing on aspects that can lead to optimal and evidence-based thiopurine and methotrexate treatment strategies in IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Section D112M, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ole Haagen
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Casper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steenholdt
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rogler
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056747:Immunomodulation; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: 6-mercaptopurine; Crohn’s disease; azathioprine; inflammatory bowel disease; methotrexate; therapy; ulcerative colitis