Antitumor necrosis factor treatment for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

• Main Authors: Darja Urlep, Vojislav N. Perisic, Rok Orel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2013-10-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: pediatric inflammatory bowel disease; treatment; anti-TNF agents; infliximab; adalimumab
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/692

<p class="AbstractANGClanekAbstract"><span lang="EN-US">Over the last 10 years, biologic treatment with the antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibodies has dramatically changed the therapeutic approach in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Currently, infliximab and adalimumab are the only anti-TNF drugs that have been approved for use in refractory pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) and infliximab the only anti-TNF agent for use in refractory pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC). According to the current treatment recommendations, anti-TNF therapy is indicated for moderate and severe pediatric IBD when remission is not achieved using conventional treatment or conventional therapy is not tolerated by the patients.</span></p><p class="AbstractANGClanekAbstract"><span lang="EN-US">Despite the demonstrated efficacy of anti-TNF drugs in pediatric IBD patients, the potential development of serious adverse events, such as severe immune reactions, infections, and malignancies, limit the possibility of a wider use of anti-TNF drugs. Moreover, a substantial percentage of patients gradually develop non-responsiveness to these therapeutics, due to generation of antibodies against anti-TNF antibodies. Therefore, treatment of pediatric IBD patients with biologics should be undertaken in specialized tertiary medical centers, which are specially qualified for this purpose.</span></p>