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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Evaluating Therapeutic Interventions in the SHIP-deficient Mouse Model of Crohn Disease-like Ileitis and Fibrosis
Published on: October 14, 2025
Management of inflammatory bowel disease in the COVID-19 era
Kyeong Ok Kim1, Byung Ik Jang1
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Insights
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face no increased COVID-19 risk from their condition or medications. Continue IBD treatment unless severely ill with COVID-19, prioritizing safety and preventing disease flares.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced significant changes in medical practice.
- Current evidence suggests patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not have a higher risk of COVID-19.
- Existing IBD therapies do not appear to elevate COVID-19 risk and may even offer therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide guidance on managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To clarify the risks associated with COVID-19 in IBD patients and the implications for treatment.
- To emphasize the importance of continued IBD management while mitigating COVID-19 risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical reports regarding COVID-19 in IBD patients.
- Analysis of the impact of IBD medications on COVID-19 susceptibility and outcomes.
- Formulation of recommendations for IBD patient care during the pandemic.
Main Results:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients generally do not face increased COVID-19 risk.
- Most IBD medications are safe to continue; high-dose corticosteroids should be used cautiously.
- Temporary cessation of immunomodulators or biologics may be necessary for COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions:
- Continued IBD treatment is crucial, as disease flares pose greater risks than medications.
- Preventing IBD relapse is paramount; sudden medication withdrawal should be avoided.
- Special precautions are needed in outpatient clinics and infusion centers; elective procedures should be deferred.
Abstract:
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many unpredictable changes have occurred in the medical field. Risk of COVID-19 does not seem to increase in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) considering based on current reports. Current medications for IBD do not increase this risk; on the contrary, some of these might be used as therapeutics against COVID-19 and are under clinical trial. Unless the patients have confirmed COVID-19 and severe pneumonia or a high oxygen demand, medical treatment should be continued during the pandemic, except for the use of high-dose corticosteroids. Adherence to general recommendations such as social distancing, wearing facial masks, and vaccination, especially for pneumococcal infections and influenza, is also required. Patients with COVID-19 need to be withhold immunomodulators or biologics for at least 2 weeks and treated based on both IBD and COVID-19 severity. Prevention of IBD relapse caused by sudden medication interruption is important because negative outcomes associated with disease flare up, such as corticosteroid use or hospitalization, are much riskier than medications. The outpatient clinic and infusion center for biologics need to be reserved safe spaces, and endoscopy or surgery should be considered in urgent cases only.
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