Use of immunomodulators and biologic therapies in children with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The immunomodulators (6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine and methotrexate) and biologics (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab and natalizumab) are medications essential in the management of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. If properly utilized, these medications can control active disease, reduce corticosteroid exposure, induce remission, and promote normal growth and development. However, these medications also have significant toxicity and increase the risk of infections and lymphoma. This article provides information about the safety and efficacy of these medications in the treatment of children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Keywords::

• 6-mercaptopurine
• adalimumab
• anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies
• azathioprine
• certolizumab
• child
• Crohn’s disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• infliximab
• methotrexate
• natalizumab
• pediatric
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

In the past year, Athos Bousvaros has received research support from Abbott and UCB Pharmaceuticals (subinvestigator on clinical trials) and Merck Pharmaceuticals (principal investigator on a clinical trial). He is a consultant and on the speaker bureau for Millennium Pharmaceuticals. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.