Maximizing the effect of biologics in inflammatory bowel disease.

The chronic course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) leads to recurrent episodes of active clinical symptoms, as well as long term complications, including hospitalizations, surgeries, and a decreased quality of life. Biologic agents have been shown to be effective for the induction and maintenance of remission in patients with moderate to severe IBD, and may alter the natural history of disease. Loss of response to biologic therapy is a common problem in clinical practice, the reasons for which are likely multifactorial; antibody development, alterations in drug clearance, and possibly a change to a non-TNF-driven inflammatory mechanism. Several studies have evaluated interventions that may lead to an increased rate of response and an increase in the durability. In this review, we evaluate ways to maximize anti-TNF treatment by administering scheduled therapy, using concomitant immunomodulator therapy, escalating dosage, and switching between biologic agents and classes. Finally, the role of antibody to infliximab (ATI) and infliximab serum trough levels are discussed in the context of optimizing biologic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

Role of small-bowel endoscopy in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an international OMED-ECCO consensus.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong diseases seen predominantly in the developed countries of the world. Whereas ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition causing diffuse and continuous mucosal inflammation of the colon, Crohn's disease is a heterogeneous entity comprised of several different phenotypes, but can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. A change in diagnosis from Crohn's disease to ulcerative colitis during the first year of illness occurs in about 10 % - 15 % of cases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) restricted to the colon that cannot be characterized as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease is termed IBD-unclassified (IBDU). The advent of capsule and both single- and double-balloon-assisted enteroscopy is revolutionizing small-bowel imaging and has major implications for diagnosis, classification, therapeutic decision making and outcomes in the management of IBD. The role of these investigations in the diagnosis and management of IBD, however, is unclear. This document sets out the current Consensus reached by a group of international experts in the fields of endoscopy and IBD at a meeting held in Brussels, 12-13th December 2008, organised jointly by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) and the Organisation Mondiale d'Endoscopie Digestive (OMED). The Consensus is grouped into seven sections: definitions and diagnosis; suspected Crohn's disease; established Crohn's disease; IBDU; ulcerative colitis (including ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA]); paediatric practice; and complications and unresolved questions. Consensus guideline statements are followed by comments on the evidence and opinion. Statements are intended to be read in context with qualifying comments and not read in isolation.