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Biological therapy of Crohn's disease

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2012

Abstract

Biologic therapy is the most effective treatment modality in patients with Crohn´s disease. Indications for biological therapy start is moderate or severe Crohn´s disease activity despite of intensive standard therapy.

In clinical practice we used immunoglobulins targeted against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Infliximab is a monoclonal, chimeric antibody and adalimumab is a complete human antibody against TNF-alpha.

Biological therapy effectivity is relatively high, more than 80–90 % patients respond due to induction treatment period. Unsolved problem is the secondary treatment failure, which requires a therapy intensification.

The side effects are not frequent, but potentialy severe. The most important is a risk for opportunistic infections.

The precise patients monitoring for whole time therapy with biologicals is needed.