Is it possible to reintroduce original biological therapy in a relapsed Crohn’s disease patient?

Česká verzia

Authors: T. Zamborský; B. Desatová; I. Páv; M. Bátovský
Authors place of work: Gastroenterologická klinika SZU a UNB Bratislava
Published in the journal: Gastroent Hepatol 2011; 65(1): 33-35
Category: IBD: kazuistika

Summary

Biological therapy has brought progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. It significantly improves the quality of patient’s life and postpones the surgical intervention. On the other hand, it raises the problem of its side effects, such as lymphoproliferative diseases in particular. Due to the risk of adverse side-effects of long-term treatment with biological agents, it is necessary to consider the options for stopping biological treatment without increasing the risk of relapse. In the case of relapse following discontinuation of biological therapy due to deep remission, it should be noted that in most cases it is possible to return to the previous biological therapy. In the vast majority of patients, the reintroduction of therapy is successful, and well tolerated. In our case we present a patient with Crohn‘s disease in deep remission during infliximab therapy and acute exacerbation after its discontinuation. The readministration was successful and no complications were recorded one and half years after the cessation of infliximab therapy.

Key words:
biological therapy – infliximab antibodies – TNF-alpha inhibitors risk of malignancy

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