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Review article: the clinical role of anti‐TNFα antibody treatment in Crohn's disease
Author(s) -
Sally Bell,
Michael A. Kamm
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2000.00777.x
Subject(s) - medicine , crohn's disease , disease , antibody , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immunology , antibody therapy , crohn disease , infliximab , monoclonal antibody
The recent licensing of anti‐TNFα antibody treatment offers the potential to radically alter the course of severe Crohn's disease using genetically‐engineered drugs directed against a specific inflammatory mediator. Controlled randomized trials have demonstrated clinical benefit associated with tissue healing in patients with active intestinal disease and fistulae, often when conventional therapies were unsuccessful. This therapy is expensive, however, and long‐term efficacy and safety data are still awaited. This review considers the nature of this therapy and the current evidence for its clinical benefit and adverse effects. The treatment is also considered in the context of available immunosuppressive agents, with suggestions about its practical application.