Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.
2012 Mar;15(1):13-18.
Biological Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Pediatrics, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
- 2Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. shimjo1@hanmail.net
Abstract
- The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases is not very well understood; it is currently thought to be caused by the interaction between genetic factors, environmental factors, intestinal microbes, and immune factors. Biological agents such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) are widely being used as therapeutic agents. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal IgG1 antibody against tumor necrosis factor, has been demonstrated to have an effect in the induction and maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease in children. The effects of biological agents, typified by anti-TNFs, in inflammatory bowel disease in children; the recent concern on the administration of biological agents in combination with immunomodulators; and 'Top-down' therapy are some of the topics covered in this review.