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Immunomodulators for all patients with inflammatory bowel disease?

Sandro Ardizzone1, Andrea Cassinotti, Gianpiero Manes

  • 1Head of IBD Unit, Cattedra e Divisione di Gatroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Azienda Ospedaliera 'L. Sacco', Polo Universitario, Milano, Italy.

Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology
|December 25, 2010
PubMed

Recent insight into the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have led to the development of new treatment options, with a progressive shift to more evidence-based strategies based on sound pathophysiological rationales. A better understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathophysiology has progressively resulted in a more frequent use of immunomodulators. We review the recommended or suggested use of conventional immunomodulators such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate in the treatment of IBD. Moreover, an effort is made to explore some critical areas in which early and more diffuse use of these agents may be advocated.

Keywords:
Crohn’s diseaseazathioprineimmunomodulatorsinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)treatmentulcerative colitis

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