Adverse events in IBD therapy: the 2018 update

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect an increasing number of patients, and utilization of immune suppressant and biologic therapies is also increasing. These agents are linked to adverse events ranging from mild nuisance symptoms to potentially life-threatening complications including infections and malignancies.

Areas covered: This review provides an updated discussion on adverse events associated with immunomodulator, anti-TNF-α, anti-integrin, and anti-IL 12/IL-23 antibody therapies. In addition, we review the risk profile of the currently widely available infliximab biosimilar medication.

Expert commentary: Providers should engage in risk-benefit discussion with information specific to each medication discussed, and consider individualized risk factors when selecting therapeutic agents. Drug monitoring and shared decision-making results in more personalized medical management of inflammatory bowel disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• azathioprine
• mercaptopurine
• methotrexate
• anti-TNF
• anti-integrin
• anti-IL 12/IL 23

Declaration of interest

R.K. Cross has research grants from Abbvie and has participated in advisory boards and consulting for Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer and Takeda. L.P. McLean is on the speaker’s bureau for Abbvie.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.