title: Biologic Drugs in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Safety Profile.
abstract: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD) are chronic, progressive and disabling disorders characterized by a heterogeneous clinical course. Some years ago the main goal of the therapy was to achieve and maintain clinical remission, whereas at present the main goal of therapy is represented by the deep remission, characterized by sustained clinical remission, complete mucosal healing and normalization of serological markers of inflammation. In the last years new therapeutic approaches have been introduced which have led to a reduction in the mortality rate and have modified the natural history of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). In addition, several prognostic factors have been identified which have allowed to better stratify the disease and to choose the most appropriate therapy for the single patient. Moreover, early treatment with immunosuppressive drugs and/or biologics has changed, at least in the short term, the course of the disease by reducing hospitalization rate and the need for surgery. Therefore, the development of biologic therapies has represented an important step in the treatment of IBD, since these drugs induce remission and response rates that are not achieved by other therapies. Since their use can result in significant adverse events that increase morbidity, patients must be aware of the risks associated with treatment and must be strictly monitored. Although treatment with biologic drugs is not successful in all patients and many of them lose clinical response, new therapies are currently under evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Clinic, Department of Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Polytechnic Marche University, United Hospitals of Ancona, Via Conca, 61, 60126 Torrette, Ancona, Italy. antonio.disario@fastwebnet.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Sario
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bendia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiadà
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassaroli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha