Biologic Treatment Withdrawal: Two Sides of a Coin
1Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Los Angeles.
Abstract:
Biologic Treatment Withdrawal: Two Sides of a CoinThe advent of monoclonal antibody (biologic) therapies ushered in a wave of highly effective yet relatively safe treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases; their use predicated on assertively controlling intestinal inflammation to reduce disease-related complications has accelerated their adoption in clinical practice.1-3 However, despite the overall advantages of biologic therapies, patients often express hesitation initiating them. The concern is for fear of adverse effects (particularly, infections and malignancy), inconvenience, cost, and the psychologic barrier of having to receive an intravenous or injectable drug "for the rest of my life."
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