Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 6, 2025

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
Infliximab Therapy Could Decrease the Risk of the Development of Thyroid Disorders in Pediatric Patients With Crohn's
Aleksandra Furtak1, Anna Maria Wedrychowicz1, Malgorzata Sladek2
1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Chair of Pediatrics, Pediatric Institute, Medical College, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland.
Infliximab (IFX) therapy may protect pediatric Crohn's disease patients from autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). Thyroid ultrasound is useful for identifying AITD risk in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are potentially linked to Crohn's disease (CD).
- Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a role in the inflammation common to both CD and AITDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of AITD in pediatric CD patients treated with infliximab (IFX), an anti-TNF-alpha antibody.
- To evaluate the utility of thyroid ultrasonography in diagnosing AITD in pediatric CD patients.
Main Methods:
- 61 pediatric CD patients were studied: 36 treated with IFX and 25 treatment-naive controls.
- Thyroid ultrasound, thyroid function tests, and thyroid antibodies were assessed in all participants.
Main Results:
- IFX-treated patients had a significantly lower prevalence of decreased thyroid echogenicity (2.8%) compared to controls (28%).
- IFX group showed lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and higher thyroid antibody levels than controls.
Conclusions:
- IFX therapy appears to have a protective effect against thyroid disorders in pediatric CD patients.
- Thyroid ultrasound is a valuable tool for identifying AITD risk in pediatric CD patients.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...

