Abstract
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with a relatively high prevalence rate in North America. More than 50% of CD patients require surgery at some stage of their disease. Anti-TNF-alpha drugs are increasingly being used in patients with CD who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. Treatment with anti-TNF-alpha agents aims at improving symptom control and reducing the need for hospitalization and surgery. This review examines the clinical effectiveness of three anti-TNF-alpha agents (infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept) in moderate and severe CD. The review further considers the evidence for the harms and benefits associated with switching from one anti-TNF-alpha agent to another and strategies to optimize the timing of therapy.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adalimumab
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
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Crohn Disease / physiopathology
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Etanercept
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects
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Immunoglobulin G / pharmacology
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Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use
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Infliximab
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use
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Severity of Illness Index
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Time Factors
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Treatment Outcome
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Immunoglobulin G
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Infliximab
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Adalimumab
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Etanercept