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Biological agents for ulcerative colitis: Hypes and hopes
Author(s) -
Danese Silvio,
Angelucci Erika,
Malesci Alberto,
Caprilli Renzo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
medicinal research reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.868
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1098-1128
pISSN - 0198-6325
DOI - 10.1002/med.20103
Subject(s) - ulcerative colitis , medicine , disease , mucosal inflammation , colitis , intensive care medicine , inflammatory bowel diseases , therapeutic approach , biological drugs , immunology
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disease of the colonic mucosa. Over the last decade, the increasing knowledge on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying intestinal inflammation has led to the development of a number of biological agents, mainly addressed to molecules and/or pathways demonstrated to have a pathogenic role in UC. In UC, clinical course and therapeutic decisions mainly depend on disease activity and extent. While therapeutic approach to mild‐to‐moderate UC by using aminosalicylates and corticosteroids has been well established, treatment of severe UC is far from being satisfactory. A severe attack of UC remains a challenge to be managed jointly by gastroenterology, surgery, and intensive care units. However, the recent introduction of biological therapies has led to promising changes in the management of UC patients. Aim of this paper is to review the recent advances and future perspectives for the use of biological agents in UC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 28, No. 2, 201–218, 2008